tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89902172423642591912020-06-06T16:02:27.098-04:00Life At Cobble Hill FarmSimple LivingStaci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.comBlogger829125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-47521579991998919462020-06-05T14:24:00.000-04:002020-06-05T14:24:23.051-04:00Healthier Chocolate Zucchini Cake<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRG0SJgzJqA/XtqKe7Ul1mI/AAAAAAAAUaA/0mHR7B5AR9w8l_hCHsTlGT8PB42n1iwQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wRG0SJgzJqA/XtqKe7Ul1mI/AAAAAAAAUaA/0mHR7B5AR9w8l_hCHsTlGT8PB42n1iwQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake1.jpg" /></a></div><br />We LOVE Chocolate Zucchini Cake.&nbsp; Even my husband who believes chocolate is so-so (can you believe that????) loves the cake.&nbsp; It's fudgy, moist, and delicious.&nbsp; You cannot taste the zucchini at all, instead, it just makes it even more moist.&nbsp; I even freeze grated zucchini to use throughout the winter in cakes, quick breads and muffins, because of this.<br /><br />Here is <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2014/08/the-best-chocolate-zucchini-cake.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">the link</span></b></a> to our original version if you're so inclined.&nbsp; The problem, is that it uses a lot of refined sugar, butter, and oil.&nbsp; I have stopped eating all refined sugar and try to not consume honey or maple syrup either.&nbsp; I'm definitely addicted to sugar so it's best if I avoid it altogether.&nbsp; Some of you have asked me to write on the topic of giving up sugar so I do plan a post that provides a bit more on that.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9f_viFt9tFQ/XtqKgROklbI/AAAAAAAAUaM/jCbFuHfw_9Mv7h39Z0_EVXFxM077BqFhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9f_viFt9tFQ/XtqKgROklbI/AAAAAAAAUaM/jCbFuHfw_9Mv7h39Z0_EVXFxM077BqFhACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake5.jpg" /></a></div><br />While I'm still working on a vegan version, I was able to drastically cut down the oil, eliminate the butter, and swap out the refined sugar for much less honey.&nbsp; I replaced the all-purpose flour with equal amounts of spelt and whole wheat, but you can certainly use all-purpose if that's what you have on hand.&nbsp; I have not yet tried a gluten-free version so I cannot tell you which gluten-free flours may or may not work.&nbsp; I cut the recipe in half because it's just the two of us and it was impossible to get through an entire 9 x 13 cake before it went bad. <br /><br />An 8 x 8 cake turned out to be the perfect size.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKLgsXrMQA4/XtqMltd9B-I/AAAAAAAAUak/X4sg9QiJSq8DAvqKi7MgNehucSV0KPzZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKLgsXrMQA4/XtqMltd9B-I/AAAAAAAAUak/X4sg9QiJSq8DAvqKi7MgNehucSV0KPzZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake7.jpg" /></a></div><br />If you prefer the larger size, no problem - just double the recipe!&nbsp; To cut down any additional oil, I use parchment paper to line the baking dish as opposed to spraying it with oil.&nbsp; If you don't have parchment you can certainly use oil for the baking pan.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCFDCI8gaE4/XtqKfLojtaI/AAAAAAAAUaE/YJ0-Q7E0MlUySKPWB_9lx-sHXEt2_jn_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCFDCI8gaE4/XtqKfLojtaI/AAAAAAAAUaE/YJ0-Q7E0MlUySKPWB_9lx-sHXEt2_jn_QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake2.jpg" /></a></div><br />There are a couple of options to kick the chocolatey goodness up even more if you desire.&nbsp; You can either add chocolate chips or chunks to the cake or, as soon as you remove the cake from the oven, you can sprinkle chocolate chips or chunks on the top and allow them to melt.&nbsp; This makes a delicious frosting.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-axGTkpuQw8I/XtqKfJys3kI/AAAAAAAAUZ8/58Ad6R3SoOU8CajyDpJZcotW6ZEjhFguwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-axGTkpuQw8I/XtqKfJys3kI/AAAAAAAAUZ8/58Ad6R3SoOU8CajyDpJZcotW6ZEjhFguwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Healthier Chocolate Zucchini Cake</b></span><br />makes 1 - 8x8 cake<br /><br />1 cup flour (I used a mix of whole wheat and spelt, but you can use all-purpose flour if you prefer)<br />1/4 cup cocoa powder<br />1 teaspoon baking powder<br />1 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1/3 cup runny honey<br />1/4 cup applesauce<br />1/4 cup oil<br />1 egg<br />3 Tablespoons yogurt (I used non-dairy, use whatever you have or sour cream if you don't have yogurt)<br />1 1/2 cups grated zucchini<br />1/3 cups chocolate chips or chunks, optional<br /><br />Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; Prepare an 8 x 8 baking pan by either lining it with parchment paper or lightly oiling it.<br /><br />In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.&nbsp; Set aside.<br /><br />In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, oil, egg, and yogurt.&nbsp; Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, mix the dry ingredients into the wet, just until combined.&nbsp; Add the zucchini and chocolate chips, if using, and mix just until combined.&nbsp; Smooth out the top of the cake.<br /><br />Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake no longer jiggles when lightly shaken.<br /><br />If you are adding chocolate chips to the top of the cake, sprinkle the cake with them as soon as it's removed from the oven.&nbsp; Let sit 3-5 minutes and then, with a rubber spatula, spread the melted chocolate evenly over the cake.<br /><br />Allow cake to cool on a wire rack.&nbsp; Store at room temp (if there's any left) in a covered container.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoQpEA0ygvg/XtqKg5YiTUI/AAAAAAAAUaQ/b40ElJGJZDYSo4jdWKthgU4JhP6Ed2NCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JoQpEA0ygvg/XtqKg5YiTUI/AAAAAAAAUaQ/b40ElJGJZDYSo4jdWKthgU4JhP6Ed2NCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-cake6.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-5115350467072170182020-05-24T22:16:00.002-04:002020-05-24T22:16:53.444-04:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0gYr5gQU1c/XssmlS4_2fI/AAAAAAAAUZE/TKdwbCyDjnIigt4Vc5gdIOj24oUcT9IbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-mint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0gYr5gQU1c/XssmlS4_2fI/AAAAAAAAUZE/TKdwbCyDjnIigt4Vc5gdIOj24oUcT9IbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-mint.jpg" /></a></div><br />Happy Sunday friends! <br /><br />How are you doing?&nbsp; I'm hoping you and your family are healthy and figuring out creative ways to find enjoyable things to do.&nbsp; Something I've been thinking about this week is my realization that when crisis happens I've learned to turn toward gratitude and get a bit tender, I suppose.&nbsp; Crisis reminds me of the precariousness of life and I find myself feeling a bit vulnerable.&nbsp; Although it may sound odd, I'm actually happy that I have evolved to this response.&nbsp; In my younger years it may have caused fear and possibly even upset but definitely not gratitude.&nbsp; I just received a similar reminder with my mom's terminal illness last summer and her ultimate passing.&nbsp; It's crisis that reminds me we only have one (life) and it is delicate and short.<br /><br />This has been a time for me to work on forgiveness and to give my flawed self and others grace for past mistakes.&nbsp; It's a time to remember that all people and animals deserve compassion and a hope that, as I continue to age, I am able to remember these lessons and engage in gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion more frequently, without first the prompt of a crisis.<br /><br />On to our weekend:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkEJZ22GkRk/XssmlBiGSEI/AAAAAAAAUZc/TK4dy2VlfnQrd9dclmksMNSlikKuFNaNgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-lettuce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkEJZ22GkRk/XssmlBiGSEI/AAAAAAAAUZc/TK4dy2VlfnQrd9dclmksMNSlikKuFNaNgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-lettuce.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-feFDpWgkVN8/XssmjUzQx0I/AAAAAAAAUZQ/Y9lItxHIOT4wApUvqWaT9jdiufqmxXDIgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-asparagus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-feFDpWgkVN8/XssmjUzQx0I/AAAAAAAAUZQ/Y9lItxHIOT4wApUvqWaT9jdiufqmxXDIgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-asparagus.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi6zFWHrOB0/Xssml2dkmLI/AAAAAAAAUZY/f4rl2SNJEREbRikNfBpDk04iNynX0m_7QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Oi6zFWHrOB0/Xssml2dkmLI/AAAAAAAAUZY/f4rl2SNJEREbRikNfBpDk04iNynX0m_7QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-peas.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">In The Garden</span></b> - Can you even believe summer is on the horizon?&nbsp; Well it is, whether you're ready or not, so time to button up those springtime projects!&nbsp; We've enjoyed a beautiful week here with temps in the 70's.&nbsp; I have planted my warm-weather crops.&nbsp; I'm not finished, but the majority are in.&nbsp; We have a woodchuck hanging around, again, which means we may be sharing the harvest until my fencing gets installed.&nbsp; Fingers crossed that my temporary fencing keeps him away from the crops he loves.<br /><br />We have one more raised bed to complete and, honestly, I'm not sure that's going to happen until fall.&nbsp; Our business has&nbsp; gotten very busy again, which we're grateful for, so household projects are once again pushed to the back burner.<br /><br />Because I pulled out all of our strawberry plants a few years ago, we will be purchasing berries from our farmer's market.&nbsp; I believe we should see them start to appear in a couple of weeks.&nbsp; For those of you in warmer climates, I'm sure you've seen them in your yards and markets for a bit.&nbsp; We are not only behind due to our zone, but it's been a bit cooler and overcast so they haven't been able to ripen and get juicy and sweet.<br /><br />We are, however, harvesting asparagus and it is sooo delicious.&nbsp; I didn't get sugar snap peas in early enough so they aren't quite ready, and our radishes, herbs, and greens are oh-so close.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHP742wtQn8/XssmjnBcFlI/AAAAAAAAUZU/sz_Id4s9_MENEan26o9_u_Y9jsoSClH-QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-farm-fresh-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VHP742wtQn8/XssmjnBcFlI/AAAAAAAAUZU/sz_Id4s9_MENEan26o9_u_Y9jsoSClH-QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-farm-fresh-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmJjqNMRwOU/XssmjtxxVyI/AAAAAAAAUZY/5HRrr6T81Tc8sruc1fHnbs_ydO_RkNyfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-chicken-coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmJjqNMRwOU/XssmjtxxVyI/AAAAAAAAUZY/5HRrr6T81Tc8sruc1fHnbs_ydO_RkNyfwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-chicken-coop.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">In The Coop</span></b> - the girls are happy again which means plenty of eggs.&nbsp; It's so funny how the production dips.&nbsp; I think it's been dipping with the weather changes.&nbsp; Can you say diva's???&nbsp; I've never noticed this happening in past years but this flock seems to be very sensitive to colder and wet weather.&nbsp; Simply put - their average number of eggs increases with relatively warm and sunny weather.&nbsp; It changes by about 2 dozen per week.<br /><br />They have been enjoying finding all types of bugs and greens and sunbathing.&nbsp; When it's warmer they tend to forage in the earlier parts of the day and then return to the comfort of their outdoor coops to rest from about 1 o'clock on.&nbsp; They don't go out much after that. It's a pretty rough life....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0pvlGTJSvk/XsspNmxw0II/AAAAAAAAUZg/xtKQR1y42ZkAUy6M9wIQ_TjIJz2iuAwdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/homesteading12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C0pvlGTJSvk/XsspNmxw0II/AAAAAAAAUZg/xtKQR1y42ZkAUy6M9wIQ_TjIJz2iuAwdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/homesteading12.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">The Business</span></b> - well, we returned to the farmer's market last Sunday.&nbsp; It has been nice to return and, for the most part, has gone very well.&nbsp; We've seen a lot of new faces, which is great.&nbsp; I wish it didn't take a pandemic for them to begin shopping at the market, but hopefully they realize how integral local farmer's and maker's are to the community.&nbsp; Our meat and veggie vendors have been selling out every weekend so I'm really happy for them.<br /><br />We've changed our set-up so customers aren't able to handle the products so we can ensure when customers make a purchase, their products have only been touched by us.&nbsp; And we follow the CDC guidelines when making, packaging, packing, and selling them.&nbsp; So, although it's a change (which is understandably difficult) and I suppose inconvenient, my hope is that people feel more comfortable because of it.<br /><br />We are very (VERY) fortunate that <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">online orders</span></b></a> have continued to come in (as in, we are now shipping 6 days a week instead of 3 days a week as we've previously done) so we are back in full production.&nbsp; Some of our craft shows have already cancelled for this year and we anticipate that the remaining likely will too.&nbsp; We had assumed that from the start, so we have tried to set ourselves up to be prepared for that loss of income.&nbsp; We are so grateful that our products are able to be shipped.&nbsp; Some of our friends either don't have a website set-up or can't easily ship their items.&nbsp; It definitely takes some creativity to figure out how to stay in business for many of them.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">At The Grocery Store</span></b> - so I went grocery shopping this past week.&nbsp; Because we usually eat so many fresh fruit and vegetables I decided it would be nice to go stock up.&nbsp; It was a lot quieter then my past 2 trips which was wonderful.&nbsp; And pretty well stocked!&nbsp; I went to a large grocery store plus one of the health food stores in our area.&nbsp; At both stores I saw empty shelves where flour would go, and still no Amy's brand refried beans (my favorite).&nbsp; The large grocery store was also out of dish soap and household cleaners.&nbsp; They finally had paper towels and toilet paper.&nbsp; It was a limited selection but it was at least a selection.&nbsp; Other then a man screaming and storming around because an employee asked him to put a mask on, all went well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-u3Av2V0pE/XssmkSyeQpI/AAAAAAAAUZQ/o1SqtESGWvAdz0aqVwrHvGZ6rRFXviqjgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-u3Av2V0pE/XssmkSyeQpI/AAAAAAAAUZQ/o1SqtESGWvAdz0aqVwrHvGZ6rRFXviqjgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-french-bulldog.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">Oliver</span></b> - he's doing well but he's definitely acting a bit older.&nbsp; I mean, I know he's 10 years old so he's up there, but he's starting to act more like his age now.&nbsp; He's sleeping a bit more and not so peppy.&nbsp; He's also not as excited about being out on the deck choosing instead to pretty much be at my side 24/7.&nbsp; His hind end is causing a bit of discomfort I believe - not sure if it's his hips or his spine since he has problems with both.&nbsp; No serious pain (I check regularly) so I'm assuming maybe some aching.&nbsp; He is on medication and it works because I accidentally forgot it one day this week and he was definitely out of sorts until I realized it and quickly gave him his dose.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVvUstt3kS8/XssmkAPz80I/AAAAAAAAUZc/DHyP8MpOztknsmg8oRE6_JhwymAmt6FAACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-farmcat-jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVvUstt3kS8/XssmkAPz80I/AAAAAAAAUZc/DHyP8MpOztknsmg8oRE6_JhwymAmt6FAACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-farmcat-jack.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">Jack</span></b> - Jack is, well, Jack.&nbsp; He's been doing fairly well although he's back to posturing at Oliver and trying to bully him whenever I'm not looking.&nbsp; You know, the same old - same old....&nbsp; He's enjoying the windows being open and spends his days roaming room-to-room so he can sit in each and every one. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDVtahWKS1A/XssmmhgzLJI/AAAAAAAAUZc/yvgu40HCbtgEqSaVkDdHqW099ARHpKVDACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-veggie-burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDVtahWKS1A/XssmmhgzLJI/AAAAAAAAUZc/yvgu40HCbtgEqSaVkDdHqW099ARHpKVDACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/weekend2-veggie-burger.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DELICIOUS veggie burgers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">In The Kitchen</span></b> - It remains a busy place.&nbsp; I haven't been meal prepping as much so I'm in there a bit more then usual throughout the week.&nbsp; We've been making <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/05/strawberry-chocolate-dairy-free-ice.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">banana-based ice cream</span></b></a> as a special snack some days and I've been experimenting with sourdough recipes and techniques which is always fun.<br /><br />Saturday I had oats with a banana, flaxseeds and berries for breakfast and Jay had hash and eggs with a side of berries. &nbsp; Lunch was simple - a big salad (greens/peppers/onions/roasted mushrooms/dates/pepitas/cabbage/balsamic vinegar/hummus/quinoa) plus a half of a super delicious veggie burger that I made for me and a burger and chips for Jay.&nbsp; Dinner was Enchilada Stacks (chicken and cheese for Jay and black bean and veggie for me) with corn salad and salsa. <br /><br />Today it was oats again for me and a breakfast sandwich for Jay.&nbsp; Berries on the side, of course.&nbsp; We had the market so if we both attend, I bring a salad and some fruit and Jay gets lunch there from one of the food vendors.&nbsp; Dinner was something easy -&nbsp; Mac &amp; Greens for me (dairy-free macaroni and "cheese" with greens and peas) and a grilled steak and homefries for Jay.&nbsp; We had a side of broccoli.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our part of NY State is in phase 1 of reopening.&nbsp; We are faring very well during this uncertain time and feel incredibly lucky that we, for the most part, work from home, have a roof over our head, and a garden to tend. <br /><br /><br />I'm hoping you had a wonderful weekend as well!&nbsp; Do tell - did you do anything fun or productive?&nbsp; Did you read a good book?&nbsp; Cook anything delicious?<br /><br /><br /><b>Link Love:</b><br />Did you realize that you need <a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/reddit-peanut-butter-bread-review-23027944" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Peanut Butter Bread</span></b></a> in your life?&nbsp; I didn't either, until I tried it.... It's good!&nbsp; It's dense but still moist, even on day 3.&nbsp; If you do decide to make it, do not over bake it.&nbsp; I took mine out at barely done with just a bit of dough attached to a toothpick inserted into the center and it was perfect!&nbsp; I added non-dairy chocolate chips, because, well....chocolate.&nbsp; <span style="color: #999999;"><i>(The Kitchn)</i></span><br /><span style="color: #999999;"></span><i></i><br />Have you been looking to add more houseplants to your life?&nbsp; I have and <a href="https://bloomscape.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">this site</span></b></a> (<i>not an affiliate link</i>) is an online store that provides a great deal of information and I'm finding it very helpful in determining what's best for each room (i.e. low light, pet friendly, etc.) <span style="color: #999999;"><i>(Bloomscape)</i></span><br /><span style="color: #999999;"><i></i><span style="color: black;"><br />And then something quite disturbing that you may not even thought of.....<a href="https://nutritionfacts.org/2020/05/21/mad-cow-disease-and-cosmetics/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">mad cow disease and cosmetics</span></b></a>.&nbsp; It really does show the importance of reading and understanding every single label for not only what you put in your body but on your body as well. </span></span><span style="color: #999999;"><i>(Nutrition Facts)</i></span><br /><i></i><span style="color: #999999;"></span><br />I think <a href="https://www.greenseggsandyams.com/the-best-black-bean-veggie-burgers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">these</span></b></a> will be the next veggie burger recipe I'll try.&nbsp; They look DELICIOUS.&nbsp; And I agree with Robin about adding a touch of BBQ sauce to all of my veggie burger recipes (that's the glaze on the veggie burger photo up above from my lunch this weekend).&nbsp; It really does add great flavor.&nbsp; <i><span style="color: #999999;">(Green Eggs And Yam)</span></i></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-68078861825678319652020-05-20T12:17:00.000-04:002020-05-20T12:17:01.126-04:00Strawberry-Chocolate Dairy-Free Ice Cream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh0p6QoYHdc/XsVJVEjStII/AAAAAAAAUX4/qWq5-lI6R38bPGMnNT9MuwrBr8Na4tK1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gh0p6QoYHdc/XsVJVEjStII/AAAAAAAAUX4/qWq5-lI6R38bPGMnNT9MuwrBr8Na4tK1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream3.jpg" /></a></div><br />You don't have to be dairy-free to appreciate this simple and delicious dessert.&nbsp; "Nice cream", ice cream made with a frozen banana base, is an absolute favorite in our household.&nbsp; We make vanilla bean, chocolate, and peanut butter cup versions as well as this classic combination. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFnQLwKbJ7A/XsVJVOVel8I/AAAAAAAAUX8/FE4cGzdzwEM1ZFugpooms5bIILeEgBpBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFnQLwKbJ7A/XsVJVOVel8I/AAAAAAAAUX8/FE4cGzdzwEM1ZFugpooms5bIILeEgBpBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream2.jpg" /></a></div><br />Strawberries are one of my most favorite fruits and chocolate, well, I am a HUGE chocolate fan so it was a no-brainer to give this a try.&nbsp; It's so refreshing, delicious and satisfying.&nbsp; It is the smooth, creamy feel of ice cream without the fat and calories.&nbsp; We buy a lot of bananas every couple of months so that we can freeze many of them for this special treat.<br /><br />You need to have a powerful food processor or blender in order to make this.&nbsp; Otherwise it will struggle and you'll end up needing to add to much milk, resulting in a rather thin milk shake.&nbsp; Not a bad result, but it's not ice cream.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqSGVLP3sWM/XsVJVnGtz3I/AAAAAAAAUYE/fNgDPRu6hF4TKdbL8Bf6obNMCOljHr-CACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FqSGVLP3sWM/XsVJVnGtz3I/AAAAAAAAUYE/fNgDPRu6hF4TKdbL8Bf6obNMCOljHr-CACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;"><b>5 Ingredients + A Blender Is All You Need!</b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Frozen Bananas</span></b> - if you don't currently have any in the freezer, once you have a few ripe bananas (they are the most creamy and flavorful if you wait until they are fully ripened), peel them and lay them on a parchment or freezer paper-lined cookie sheet and pop that in the freezer for a couple hours.&nbsp; You can then store them in any freezer-safe container or bag in the freezer until you need them.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Frozen Strawberries</span></b> - sliced frozen strawberries are easiest on your blender, but whole will work.&nbsp; Again, if you don't have any currently in the freezer, you can wash and dry a handful, place them on a parchment or freezer paper-lined cookie sheet and pop that in the freezer for a few hours.&nbsp; Transfer them to any freezer-safe container or bag and store in the freezer until needed.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Milk</span></b> - use non-dairy if you would like to keep this non-dairy, any milk will work (dairy, nut, oat, etc.).<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Sweetener</span></b> - this is optional, but a little bit does add the perfect sweetness.&nbsp; You can use honey, maple syrup or date syrup.&nbsp; If you only have granulated sugar, you would want to make a simple syrup and add it after completely cooled. (simple syrup = equal parts hot water and sugar, stirred until granulated sugar is completely dissolved)<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Chocolate</span></b> - chunks, chips, broken up chocolate bars, whatever you've got or prefer will work here.&nbsp; Use non-dairy if you'd like to keep this non-dairy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Q73s6B0JP4/XsVJV5TcWNI/AAAAAAAAUYI/FxkCNJIILBEt6Gce56GXDhBbZ_4IL8LiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Q73s6B0JP4/XsVJV5TcWNI/AAAAAAAAUYI/FxkCNJIILBEt6Gce56GXDhBbZ_4IL8LiwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">Strawberry-Chocolate Dairy-Free Ice Cream</span></b><br />makes 2 cups<br /><br />2 frozen bananas, cut into chunks<br />2 1/4 cups frozen strawberries slices<br />1-3 tablespoons milk (any non-dairy or dairy will work)<br />1 tablespoon liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or date syrup), optional<br />1/4 cup chopped chocolate (chunks or chips will work)<br /><br />Add bananas, strawberries, 1 tablespoon of the milk and liquid sweetener (if using) to either a food processor bowl or to a high-power blender.&nbsp; Mix.&nbsp; Add an additional 1-2 tablespoons milk if necessary to get the fruit to blend.&nbsp; Stir in the chocolate. <br /><br />Serve or store in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 1 hour.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jMzt9jsxVSQ/XsVJVLeBXpI/AAAAAAAAUYA/H1LHeJn8Sggkq0mLHx885UpnAfg6MtMKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jMzt9jsxVSQ/XsVJVLeBXpI/AAAAAAAAUYA/H1LHeJn8Sggkq0mLHx885UpnAfg6MtMKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/strawberry-nice-cream1.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-10423710739000054682020-05-03T21:15:00.001-04:002020-05-03T21:15:23.342-04:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H-YlYDQ-SUM/Xq9Rp8UIupI/AAAAAAAAUWU/HBsfksveZ_cCupPPuk1SsDA8r9QcYQ8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H-YlYDQ-SUM/Xq9Rp8UIupI/AAAAAAAAUWU/HBsfksveZ_cCupPPuk1SsDA8r9QcYQ8JQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-fern.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxdL679xNAA/Xq9RqtprogI/AAAAAAAAUW0/74_ZlozhemQV2R_wIOb0w5551yc7M_fHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-onions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QxdL679xNAA/Xq9RqtprogI/AAAAAAAAUW0/74_ZlozhemQV2R_wIOb0w5551yc7M_fHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-onions.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3NzrPdnqn0/Xq9RqxgzeZI/AAAAAAAAUXA/YJ4lfbtAnGws3WBLpTKsZzQDBR18vQpFACEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3NzrPdnqn0/Xq9RqxgzeZI/AAAAAAAAUXA/YJ4lfbtAnGws3WBLpTKsZzQDBR18vQpFACEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-seedlings.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuCnYBFQkA/Xq9RqgYHvwI/AAAAAAAAUW4/RygQ5dTmQcofOeOOiK_krL2GFfY45ycfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-pear-tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jiuCnYBFQkA/Xq9RqgYHvwI/AAAAAAAAUW4/RygQ5dTmQcofOeOOiK_krL2GFfY45ycfgCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-pear-tree.jpg" /></a></div><br />Hello beautiful weather!&nbsp; And I'm not only talking about the sunshine.&nbsp; It rained Thursday and Friday and my garden is loving it.&nbsp; Hooray for rain!&nbsp; Then, Saturday and Sunday it was sunny and in the upper 60's and then 70's which meant my little seeds began sprouting.&nbsp; And quite happily I might add.&nbsp; Well, at least I think they seem happy.&nbsp; Seeds are sprouting, plants are growing, and fruit trees and bushes are getting ready to bloom.&nbsp; All is well in the garden.<br /><br />Jay was even able to get one of my new raised beds completed.&nbsp; I will fill it with soil and compost tomorrow and it will be set to plant in a couple of weeks.&nbsp; One down, one to go!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0u4V94Yco/Xq9Xt4WHhbI/AAAAAAAAUXE/tXgpc8f3EgokFQ6WnWRjrdE9UNXbp3WmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="631" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_t0u4V94Yco/Xq9Xt4WHhbI/AAAAAAAAUXE/tXgpc8f3EgokFQ6WnWRjrdE9UNXbp3WmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Coop Girls</span></i></b> - oh those girls.&nbsp; So, they are back in full egg production again.&nbsp; I have no idea why it slowed briefly but they are now back on track and laying around a dozen per day. <br /><br />They are so funny about water.&nbsp; We've started filling their outdoor waterers again (now that they don't freeze every night) and for whatever reason, those outdoor waterers dish out the BEST water.&nbsp; They watch me fill them and then mob me to get the first drink as soon as the waterers are hung.&nbsp; <i>*spoiler alert - it's the same exact water as the indoor water....*</i><br /><i></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkjZY_JQmps/Xq9Xt3RmfJI/AAAAAAAAUXM/TgM75MWPQTMtHAq46tCrLESpGomJ2ZgbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qkjZY_JQmps/Xq9Xt3RmfJI/AAAAAAAAUXM/TgM75MWPQTMtHAq46tCrLESpGomJ2ZgbQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jackson.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><b><span style="color: #444444;">Jackson</span></b> - </i><span style="color: black;">that cat.&nbsp; His newest "trick" is to go around the house and try to open things.&nbsp; Drawers, cupboards, anything that he can tap at or pull.&nbsp; Well I made him quite the happy boy.&nbsp; I saw him doing this throughout the day (it's his only activity some days in between naps) so I put two of his favorite toys in one of the empty soft bins that is on his route.&nbsp; I can't even describe how excited he was when he successfully pulled that bin open and spotted his pink mouse and his green cricket.&nbsp; He did a double take and then leapt in the air and attempted to land in the bin (he's not graceful - it didn't work).&nbsp; He started batting and jumping and carrying on.&nbsp; It's the little things, isn't it?</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfJH8jnp1Vs/Xq9XulkbUYI/AAAAAAAAUXU/fHFt-8b7wiQ0Sr3bg9BecSuZhOU67xEnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog-oliver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mfJH8jnp1Vs/Xq9XulkbUYI/AAAAAAAAUXU/fHFt-8b7wiQ0Sr3bg9BecSuZhOU67xEnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog-oliver2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Oliver</span></i></b><span style="color: black;"> - he's doing well.&nbsp; A bit bummed about the rain this week but it was only a couple days so all is well now that his buns are in the sun.&nbsp; He gets a little cranky on soapmaking days (not his favorite days of the week because he doesn't get much attention).&nbsp; It will get better when the temps are consistently in the 70's during the day to allow for all-day deck time for him.&nbsp; If he gets deck time I am forgiven for the lack of attention.</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kP0Fvfnsu_4/Xq9RpwjeSKI/AAAAAAAAUW0/fJNrtpChU-IzgiU7BpKme79WavQwnqAFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-hibiscus-tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kP0Fvfnsu_4/Xq9RpwjeSKI/AAAAAAAAUW0/fJNrtpChU-IzgiU7BpKme79WavQwnqAFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-hibiscus-tea.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">In The Kitchen</span></i></b><span style="color: black;"> - well, I've finally stopped making so much bread.&nbsp; I feel better not eating flour multiple days of the week, I must say.&nbsp; I have cut it back to once a week.&nbsp; That seems to be the best for us.</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">I've been enjoying the Celestial Seasonings "zinger" teas.&nbsp; I am currently drinking the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007GMXEFS?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">raspberry zinger </span></b></a>variety.&nbsp; Hibiscus is one of the main ingredients and so incredibly good for you.&nbsp; I brew it cold and leave it in the fridge so I can enjoy a cup all week.&nbsp; I don't usually make the switch to iced tea for another few weeks but it just sounded good.</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">I made chocolate-strawberry "nice cream" (non-dairy) as a special treat this weekend and it was sooooo good.&nbsp; I'll share the recipe this week.&nbsp; I also tossed a bunch of odds and ends veggies that are getting close to that fateful no-longer-good stage, on a parchment lined baking sheet and roasted them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30-40 minutes.&nbsp; After they were roasted I poured them into a dutch oven, topped them with some water, added a bay leaf, and simmered the concoction for 2 hours to make a nice batch of homemade vegetable stock.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nScNYDFqg4g/Xq9Rq6cXXFI/AAAAAAAAUW8/r3iHSkhlUlQcGjDYXLlAJv9yVFZSLCWhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nScNYDFqg4g/Xq9Rq6cXXFI/AAAAAAAAUW8/r3iHSkhlUlQcGjDYXLlAJv9yVFZSLCWhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/weekend1-salad.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">On Saturday we had oatmeal and berries for breakfast.&nbsp; Pretty standard.&nbsp; I had a big delicious salad with hummus for lunch, and Jay had naan "pizza" in the air fryer and we both had an apple dipped in honey-roasted peanut butter as a snack.&nbsp; Dinner was grilled chicken for him with homefries and steamed broccoli, and I had barley with steamed vegetables and black beans.</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">Sunday was oatmeal with berries for breakfast for me and Jay had eggs and toast.&nbsp; Lunch was another big delicious salad for me and Jay wasn't hungry because he ate his breakfast kind of late.&nbsp; Chocolate-Strawberry Nice Cream was our special fruit treat (strawberries and bananas).&nbsp; Dinner was burgers - meat for Jay and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/07/the-best-black-bean-mushroom-vegan.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">black bean</span></b></a> for me.&nbsp; I made air fryer fresh french fries, steamed broccoli and beets as the sides.&nbsp; I made up another batch of the <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/07/the-best-black-bean-mushroom-vegan.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">black bean burgers</span></b></a> for the freezer because I can use these anytime I'm not sure what I want for lunch or dinner.</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">I'm hoping you had a wonderful weekend as well!&nbsp; Do tell - did you do anything fun or productive?&nbsp; Cook anything delicious?&nbsp; Read a great book?</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444;"><b><i>Link Love:</i></b></span><br /><span style="color: black;">Have you ever searched <a href="https://www.tasteatlas.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Taste Atlas</span></b></a> for signature dishes in cities or countries around the world?&nbsp; It can become a tad addictive....</span><br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>When was the last time you made <a href="https://food52.com/blog/25254-how-to-make-bread-in-a-rice-cooker" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">bread in your rice cooker</span></b></a>?&nbsp; Never?&nbsp; Yup, that's my answer too.&nbsp; Intriguing, however.... (Food52)<br /><br />I understand that you've likely been inundated with enough about the current pandemic, but I thought <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">this write-up in the NY Times</span></b></a> was quite informative.&nbsp; (NYTimes)<br /><br />Are you one of the many who ran out of yeast?&nbsp; Beth shared a <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/no-yeast-pizza-dough/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">yeast-free pizza dough</span></b></a> recipe on her site. (BudgetBytes)<br /><br />Is kombucha healthy or not-healthy?&nbsp; This is a question I go back and forth over myself.&nbsp; I haven't had any in over a year because I'm just not sure.&nbsp; So, I have tea instead.&nbsp; <a href="https://foodrevolution.org/blog/kombucha-tea-benefits/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">Here's a take on it</span></b></a> with some interesting points including a reminder of the potential impact on teeth. (FoodRevolution)<br /><br /><a href="https://heated.medium.com/put-this-list-on-your-fridge-21284a3cddfa" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">A handy guide for the kitchen</span></b></a> of interchangeable ingredients by none other than the incredible Mark Bittman. (Heated)<br /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-30361658202232844482020-05-02T16:38:00.001-04:002020-05-02T16:41:28.403-04:00Asparagus 101: How To Select, Store & Prepare<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2z_7q2PCsm0/Xq3V1P4PNLI/AAAAAAAAUVw/zY7T7BOAIxw6XI7A0e0Pe8XY7Z1lbZxEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2z_7q2PCsm0/Xq3V1P4PNLI/AAAAAAAAUVw/zY7T7BOAIxw6XI7A0e0Pe8XY7Z1lbZxEACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-3.jpg" /></a></div><br />There is no Springtime treat I look forward to more than fresh asparagus.&nbsp; It's tips peaking through the earth signifies the end of winter.&nbsp; We adore it so much that the first crop we planted once we established our raised bed garden space was this delicious vegetable.&nbsp; Asparagus is usually served as a side dish and you can plan on about 10 thin stalks or 5-6 thick stalks per person.&nbsp; Although, the first time of picking each spring I try to get a bit more for each of us because it's been an entire year since we've enjoyed the tender, flavorful stalks.&nbsp; It makes for a special dinner, no matter what else is being served.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>How To Select:</b></span> White, purple (turns green when cooked), or green asparagus is all delicious.&nbsp; Green is most common although I've seen quite a bit of the purple variety at the farmer's market lately.&nbsp; The size can be a matter of debate.&nbsp; My husband, for instance, believes the skinniest stalks are best whereas I adore any of them.&nbsp; Some choose to peel thicker stalks with a vegetable peeler, although it certainly isn't a requirement.&nbsp; Canned or frozen asparagus are, well, mushy, so if you can purchase stalks fresh and in-season, these will taste the best.<br /><br />If you are trying to select asparagus from the grocery store or farmer's market, rather then your backyard, you'll want to look for upright and firm stalks.&nbsp; Pay close attention to the tips as they will tell you if the stalk is past it's prime or not.&nbsp; You want tips that appear closed and compact and don't look too dry or moist and slimy.&nbsp; The stalks should have bases that aren't too woody, dry, or cracked.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kMCsPr4yrI/Xq3ZXATBtaI/AAAAAAAAUWM/naXkmZJ9P70twiFQ7L4z8las3MWSNU85ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="642" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0kMCsPr4yrI/Xq3ZXATBtaI/AAAAAAAAUWM/naXkmZJ9P70twiFQ7L4z8las3MWSNU85ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>How To Store:</b></span> First, if it's banded with a rubber band, it's best to remove that.&nbsp; The rubber bands promote sweating, because the stalks are bound together, which will accelerate their deterioration.&nbsp; For freshly picked asparagus, including what you purchase at the farmer's market, it's best to un-band them (if they are banded) and store them in a jar of water in the refrigerator, tips up, with the tops loosely covered with a small paper, cloth, or plastic bag.&nbsp; For asparagus purchased at the grocery store, un-band them and store loose in a paper, cloth, or plastic bag in the vegetable bin.&nbsp; Asparagus are always best cooked the day they are picked.&nbsp; If that's not possible, they should not be stored for more then 2-3 days.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQNj-mf7G9w/Xq3V1OZTffI/AAAAAAAAUV0/vV2ucvkdepoxA5Dr_Qo3aPBJ0CWg3AUgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQNj-mf7G9w/Xq3V1OZTffI/AAAAAAAAUV0/vV2ucvkdepoxA5Dr_Qo3aPBJ0CWg3AUgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>How To Prepare:</b></span> Asparagus is best prepared right away, no matter where it comes from, store, farmer's market, or your backyard.&nbsp; Rinse each stalk, gently bend it and let the stalk snap where the tender and woody/tough parts meet.&nbsp; Then you can simmer, steam, roast, broil, stir-fry, sauté, or grill.&nbsp; Whichever way you choose, asparagus is usually done in minutes.&nbsp; Asparagus is delicious served without an accompaniment, but if you would like to add a little something to it, some of the more popular ones include: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a sprinkle of freshly grated lemon zest, a drizzle of olive oil (plain or infused - garlic, herb, etc.), a pat of butter, a thin shaving of parmesan, a vinaigrette (very good with an Italian one), a hollandaise sauce, or with a bit of mayo.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Simmer:</span></b>&nbsp; Lay the trimmed and cleaned asparagus in a skillet that can hold the spears without crowding.&nbsp; Cover with water, cover the skillet, and turn the heat to high.&nbsp; Cook 3-10 minutes, just until a sharp knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of the thickest spear.&nbsp; Serve.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Steam:</span></b> <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Lay the trimmed and cleaned asparagus in a steamer basket set in a skillet that has about an inch of water in it.&nbsp; Cover and turn the heat to high.&nbsp; Cook 3-10 minutes, just until a sharp knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of the thickest spear.&nbsp; Serve.</span><br /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Roast: </span></b>Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; Toss the trimmed and cleaned asparagus in a bit of olive oil to coat lightly, and season with salt and pepper.&nbsp; Set on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 10-15 minutes, or until a sharp knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of the thickest spear.&nbsp; Turn once or twice while it's roasting.&nbsp; Serve.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7u68YdErEs/Xq3V1oiwwjI/AAAAAAAAUV8/zuvZguG-0HE65AjPYXQnWIwmcBeQXJvDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="502" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7u68YdErEs/Xq3V1oiwwjI/AAAAAAAAUV8/zuvZguG-0HE65AjPYXQnWIwmcBeQXJvDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/asparagus101-4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Broil:</span></b> Preheat the broiler.&nbsp; Lay the trimmed and cleaned asparagus on a parchment or foil-lined baking sheet.&nbsp; Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.&nbsp; Place under the broiler, watching carefully, for 5-10 minutes, turning once or twice during this time.&nbsp; Broil until a sharp knife can be easily inserted into the thickest part of the thickest spear.&nbsp; Serve.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Stir-Fry/Sauté: </span></b>Slice the trimmed and cleaned asparagus into 2 inch pieces, leaving the tips at 2-3 inches.&nbsp; For the thicker stalks, slice the stalks in half.&nbsp; Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and add asparagus to the hot pan.&nbsp; Season with salt and pepper to taste and sauté, stirring frequently, until nearly tender.&nbsp; Add minced shallot or garlic in the last minute, if desired.&nbsp; Serve.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">To Grill:</span></b> Preheat the grill.&nbsp; Gently toss the trimmed and cleaned asparagus in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to coat each stalk.&nbsp; Season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill over direct heat, turning every 3-4 minutes, until tender.&nbsp; Serve plain, with a squeeze of lemon, or with a thin shaving of parmesan. *If you have thick stalks, it's best to peel the bottoms of the stalks first and parboil for 1 minute, then drain before proceeding.<br /><br /><br />Whichever way you choose to prepare it, I recommend savoring every bite.&nbsp; Although it's available in stores year-round, that doesn't mean it tastes good.&nbsp; Freshly picked asparagus is incredibly delicious and truly one of the best things about spring.</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-28977172044927665222020-04-24T12:10:00.000-04:002020-04-24T12:10:38.293-04:00Southwestern Rice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO2G-mrABr8/XqGyvf4TvKI/AAAAAAAAUVM/nTdDUClFLAQtqypyqvtXlTXHOgK-IR8xACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gO2G-mrABr8/XqGyvf4TvKI/AAAAAAAAUVM/nTdDUClFLAQtqypyqvtXlTXHOgK-IR8xACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice3.jpg" /></a></div><br />Southwestern rice is full of flavor, full of veggies, and tastes delicious.&nbsp; I adore this dish for a few reasons: <br />1. it's made in one pot, which means less dirty dishes,<br />2. it's a main dish for me and a side dish for Jay (I grill a chicken breast to go with it for him) and<br />3. it's versatile - add or subtract any of the veggies, add or subtract spices (it still tastes good without them), add shredded cheese at the end, or even add meat.<br /><br />I usually make a big batch of this at least once a month with whatever I have on hand for veggies, beans and herbs, and freeze leftovers to use throughout the remainder of the month.<br /><br />As noted in the recipe, it serves 4-8.&nbsp; I know this is a wide range but it depends on if you're serving it as a side or as a main dish, and, of course, it depends on how much each person eats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ8j8qq34xs/XqGyvVYxI8I/AAAAAAAAUVE/DyKevSrdYfwOBfiVfjtdIM9peKs7hvP3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ8j8qq34xs/XqGyvVYxI8I/AAAAAAAAUVE/DyKevSrdYfwOBfiVfjtdIM9peKs7hvP3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Southwestern Rice</b></span><br />Serves 4-8<br /><br />1 Tablespoon oil or water (for cooking vegetables)<br />1/3 cup chopped onion<br />1/3 cup chopped bell peppers (red, green, orange, or a combination)<br />1/4 cup corn (fresh or frozen)<br />1/3 cup black beans (fresh, frozen, or canned - drained if canned)<br />1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and pepper minced, optional<br />1/2 teaspoon dried basil<br />1/2 teaspoon garlic powder<br />1/4 teaspoon cumin<br />1/4 teaspoon onion powder<br />1/4 teaspoon dried oregano<br />1 can Rotel Tomatoes (whichever type is your favorite)<br />2 teaspoons chicken or vegetable bouillon (I use "no chicken" Better Than Bouillon)<br />1 cup rice (I use brown but you can use any type except Arborio), rinsed and drained<br />1 3/4 cups water<br />1/4 cup minced cilantro, optional<br />salt and pepper to taste<br />shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole - optional toppings<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJD0WiOcm-M/XqMMNFuWieI/AAAAAAAAUVg/pe9MQskz4Y8B-J15EAWLgA8kHh_-eJdIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BJD0WiOcm-M/XqMMNFuWieI/AAAAAAAAUVg/pe9MQskz4Y8B-J15EAWLgA8kHh_-eJdIQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice4.jpg" /></a></div><br />In a small bowl measure out all dried spices (basil through oregano).&nbsp; Set aside.<br /><br />To a saucepan over medium heat, add oil or water.&nbsp; Once heated, add onions and peppers and sauté until onion is translucent, about 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.&nbsp; Add corn, drained beans, and jalapeno, if using.&nbsp; Stir to cook, about 3 minutes.&nbsp; Add a teaspoon or two additional water or oil if pan is getting dry.<br /><br />Add dried spices and stir constantly, allowing to bloom in the hot pan, about 1 minute.&nbsp; Stir in Rotel tomatoes until incorporated.&nbsp; Stir in bouillon and rice, stirring a few seconds until all rice kernels are coated.&nbsp; Add water and stir until incorporated. <br /><br />Turn heat to high and allow to come to a light boil.&nbsp; Turn heat down to low, cover saucepan and cook 20-40 minutes, following time required for the type of rice you are using.&nbsp; (typically 20 minutes for white and 40 minutes for brown)<br /><br />Uncover and stir in cilantro, if using.<br /><br />Serve.&nbsp; We've served this plain, with tortilla chips, with tortilla shells, and over greens. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzU83uVayY8/XqMMNBrWWiI/AAAAAAAAUVk/RD_SpVxGTHIrJpKDTItpdsPq8IBRqjWsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="502" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BzU83uVayY8/XqMMNBrWWiI/AAAAAAAAUVk/RD_SpVxGTHIrJpKDTItpdsPq8IBRqjWsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/southwestern-rice2.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-57955916479918146482020-04-20T13:40:00.001-04:002020-04-20T21:30:35.980-04:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2kU2FWV-CE/Xp3X7tPNqTI/AAAAAAAAUUc/8IFEhOVMHvIujG-WD66gf5z_DcEM0nktACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-chicken-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k2kU2FWV-CE/Xp3X7tPNqTI/AAAAAAAAUUc/8IFEhOVMHvIujG-WD66gf5z_DcEM0nktACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-chicken-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's a beautiful day here in upstate NY.&nbsp; If you look past the (still) freezing temps at night, it was near 60 yesterday and should be in the 50's today.&nbsp; That, to me, is a beautiful day.&nbsp; I hope this finds you and your family holding up well. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyHYiAN5Mcg/Xp3X8RyCVqI/AAAAAAAAUUo/leWuzLALbt4vZYGjPRKOCxjM4Noo658mACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyHYiAN5Mcg/Xp3X8RyCVqI/AAAAAAAAUUo/leWuzLALbt4vZYGjPRKOCxjM4Noo658mACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-garden.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new gardening materials were delivered!</td></tr></tbody></table>We have been getting a lot of to-do's around the house checked off.&nbsp; And for some reason, my husband is suddenly gung-ho on whatever I suggest we do next so I'm going with it.&nbsp; We discussed the garden re-do again this week and the next thing I know we were headed to load up on free compost from our neighboring town and a local hardware store was delivering materials to build more raised garden beds. Well, we've got some work to do!&nbsp; We will eventually need to get more compost but for now we'll focus on building the beds so we can determine how much more we need.<br /><br />We did go grocery shopping just over a week ago.&nbsp; I really didn't want to go so I waited until the end of the week when we really were in need.&nbsp; It has been a month since we went last.&nbsp; There weren't a lot of choices for the most part.&nbsp; No rice, pasta, flour, boxed or frozen mac &amp; cheese (Jay likes this), spaghetti sauce, sugar, toilet paper, cleaning supplies or Kleenex.&nbsp; We have all of those on hand but it was so strange to see the shelves still, a month into this, completely bare.&nbsp; There was cereal, produce, cheese and non-dairy cheese but a much smaller selection.&nbsp; I was excited to get some greens, oranges, apples, mushrooms and cilantro as well as cheese for Jay.&nbsp; Jay wanted canned hash (that stuff is awful smelling....) so I was able to get the last 2 cans and I got the last 2 bottles of unscented dish soap.&nbsp; Dried beans were sold out so I was able to get canned black beans that have no added salt.&nbsp; I have other dried beans on hand, I just wanted some black beans.&nbsp; I am grateful that we are able to go.&nbsp; With so many people struggling during this time I have to remind myself to express gratitude for the ability to go and get what we need or want.<br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Around The House</span></i></b> - my bathroom floor is installed!!!!!&nbsp; Woo hoo!!!!&nbsp; We've owned this flooring for 2 years and it was FINALLY installed.&nbsp; I'm so excited.&nbsp; Touch-up painting in the kitchen was completed, and we are in the process of moving garden tools, freezers, and such around between the barn, shop and shed. <br /><br />We're planning on painting the dining room next (we have the paint, just haven't done the work, although now I'm doubting the color.....).&nbsp; sidenote:&nbsp; do you have a spouse who is opinionated on the paint colors?&nbsp; Well, I do.&nbsp; Now normally this is a good thing. I mean, at least he cares.&nbsp; But it becomes more difficult when it comes to things like wall colors, especially since I don't (nor does he) enjoy changing them.&nbsp; He wants bold color and I want muted earth tones (he says that's boring - whatever.&nbsp; I LIKE boring...).&nbsp; He likes the color it is currently - a pine green.&nbsp; I do not.&nbsp; It's too small of a room for that color, it makes it too dark.&nbsp; I want something like "gatherings" by Magnolia Home (seen <a href="https://www.acehardware.com/departments/paint-and-supplies/interior-paint/wall-paint/1786672" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a>).&nbsp; We currently have a dark olive green paint that I love, but I don't think I love for this room.&nbsp; I'm not overly excited about it so maybe it will change.....<br /><br />I had wanted to paint the living room (keeping the same color, just to freshen it up) this spring as well but we do not have the paint and I have no interest going into the store to have it mixed.&nbsp; Maybe in the fall or winter. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVKSZToRr8o/Xp3X7s6OjyI/AAAAAAAAUUY/R4rdFVK2cvwXC7O3DYWfrDKsE_ejVWLjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-blueberry-sourdough-muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVKSZToRr8o/Xp3X7s6OjyI/AAAAAAAAUUY/R4rdFVK2cvwXC7O3DYWfrDKsE_ejVWLjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-blueberry-sourdough-muffin.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blueberry sourdough muffins</td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">In The Kitchen</span></i></b> - I have loved being able to spend more time in the kitchen.&nbsp; I'm trying to work in some of the new recipes I've wanted to try since I have the time to do it.&nbsp; Of course, I'm limited by what ingredients we have on hand.<br /><br />Saturday we had blueberry sourdough muffins (and coffee) I made with my sourdough discard, honey, and frozen blueberries.&nbsp; They were yummy!&nbsp; I started with a found recipe, as I often do, and it was ok.&nbsp; So, again as I often do, I tweaked it and was successful in making it more moist and tender.&nbsp; I'll share the recipe soon.&nbsp; For lunch it was nachos and salad (an odd combination, I know) and dinner was chicken with orange sauce, broccoli and rice for Jay and southwestern rice and broccoli for me. <br /><br />Sunday was blueberry muffins and coffee again for breakfast and leftovers for lunch.&nbsp; For dinner it was pizza night so I used the <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/the-most-delicious-no-knead-artisan.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">No Knead Bread recipe</span></b></a> (see below) for the crust.&nbsp; Jay's toppings were mushrooms, onions, peppers, cheese and pepperoni.&nbsp; Mine were sautéed mushrooms &amp; onions, olives, and non-dairy cheese.&nbsp; Jay also had air fryer chicken wings (they turn out super crispy!)<br /><br />I've made new notes on the super easy <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/the-most-delicious-no-knead-artisan.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">No Knead Bread recipe</span></b></a>.&nbsp; I've been using it to make hamburger rolls, brat rolls, philly cheesesteak (and mushroom cheesesteak) rolls, dinner rolls, etc.&nbsp; They are chewy, slightly crunchy, and absolutely delicious.&nbsp; We also started using it to make pizza.&nbsp; It works really well!&nbsp; The dough is super easy to make.&nbsp; I measure out the ingredients in the evening when I'm doing dinner dishes.&nbsp; Then, right before I go to bed I combine them to mix up the dough.&nbsp; It then is completely ignored, sitting on the kitchen counter, until I need to use it the next day either for lunch or dinner.&nbsp; It's really a versatile dough.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEm64u_4HTg/Xp3X7vvFLPI/AAAAAAAAUUg/DTpCli0uA10MrhYZ5CMkGanjsLOjxq-wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEm64u_4HTg/Xp3X7vvFLPI/AAAAAAAAUUg/DTpCli0uA10MrhYZ5CMkGanjsLOjxq-wgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-chicken.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">In The Coop</span></i></b> - the coop girls are doing well.&nbsp; Egg laying has decreased, I'm not sure why.&nbsp; We went from a dozen eggs a day to anywhere from 4-8 per day.&nbsp; They are loving the weather these days and spend most of their hours foraging and enjoying any sunshine we receive. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">In The Garden</span></i></b> - seeds are planted!&nbsp; I have been planting all of the seeds that are safe in our colder temps and hope to finish this week.&nbsp; The raised beds that need to be built will be used for the seeds and starts that I can't plant until late May.&nbsp; I usually don't get seeds in the ground early (rather, on time) so I'm grateful to have the time this year to do it.<br /><br />Our daffodils are about 3 inches above ground, the fruit trees have little buds developing, the azalea bush is ready to explode in color and still no sightings of the most anticipated vegetable of the season, asparagus.&nbsp; Our yard is fairly well shaded so almost everything we plant is weeks behind everyone else's plants in our area because of it.&nbsp; No complaints here - it makes it so much more tolerable to work outside in the summer.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BW728O199y8/Xp3X8AQRW4I/AAAAAAAAUUk/vKeBDxEmM8YI43ghdUClWN4GVnUO7aUOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BW728O199y8/Xp3X8AQRW4I/AAAAAAAAUUk/vKeBDxEmM8YI43ghdUClWN4GVnUO7aUOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-french-bulldog.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LprJyWCExos/Xp3dMM9ARwI/AAAAAAAAUU4/M0JUqJp9gVw0pBQKT_AWa0ujUYhqkM-dgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-farmcat-jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LprJyWCExos/Xp3dMM9ARwI/AAAAAAAAUU4/M0JUqJp9gVw0pBQKT_AWa0ujUYhqkM-dgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-farmcat-jack.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack a.k.a. Mr Naughty Pants (no, he's not supposed to be outside)</td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Jack &amp; Oliver</span></i></b> - they are doing well.&nbsp; Jack <strike>is playing nice at the moment</strike>, for the most part.&nbsp; (crossed out because this morning he went on a rampage chasing Oliver around and acting like a jerk - back to his old self....) Sometimes he just can't help himself.&nbsp; We haven't been able to open the house windows this week so he's been bummed about that.&nbsp; It hasn't been warm enough for much deck time for Oliver this past week either, although he did have a lot of deck time yesterday.&nbsp; They both get a little stir crazy without that fresh air. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">A quick thanks</span></i></b> - For those of you who are deemed essential workers, thank you.&nbsp; Particularly those who are first responders and healthcare workers, I have nothing but gratitude for each and every one of you. <br /><br /><br />I'm hoping you had a wonderful weekend as well and that you are able to enjoy the time at home.<br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-1111140458879486502020-04-17T15:00:00.001-04:002020-04-17T20:38:36.218-04:00Master Recipe: Berry Chia Seed Jam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKKcjIrCoQ8/Xpn7NlSVz4I/AAAAAAAAUT8/IJpsR_sdAmsEuqhEQRt68CGJpZkf7LxuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKKcjIrCoQ8/Xpn7NlSVz4I/AAAAAAAAUT8/IJpsR_sdAmsEuqhEQRt68CGJpZkf7LxuACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam2.jpg" /></a></div><br />This is the PERFECT jam for 3 reasons:<br />1. it's super easy (completed in less then 10 minutes).<br />2. you can use little to no added natural sugars.<br />3. no canning required = you can make it as you need it.<br /><br />And did I mention that it's super easy?<br /><br />We switched to real, whole foods a while ago and as part of that style of eating, we have just about eliminated refined sugar (I have completely, my husband has drastically reduced his consumption).&nbsp; So what do I use in jam, you ask?&nbsp; I've made canned jam using honey as well as canned jam using maple syrup.&nbsp; The problem is two fold: 1. it uses a LOT of honey or maple syrup (which aren't cheap) and 2. as we've stopped eating so many sweet things we realize just how overly sweet jam can be.<br /><br />Enter, the chia seed jam....<br /><br />I almost always have frozen berries in the freezer.&nbsp; Coincidentally, our favorite jam is any berry or mixture of berry.&nbsp; So this really is the perfect jam.<br /><br />Also, it's made in a small batch.&nbsp; We don't eat jam a lot so this solves the problem of it possibly going bad.&nbsp; It's easy peasy to finish off one batch of this before it goes bad - we use it on toast, on crepes, on "nice cream" (non-dairy ice cream), on oatmeal, etc.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMZIuCQESCE/Xpn7OVzAnMI/AAAAAAAAUUI/ZkjjixYODUkZYdbNtekCy5vAg_ZpNlwpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMZIuCQESCE/Xpn7OVzAnMI/AAAAAAAAUUI/ZkjjixYODUkZYdbNtekCy5vAg_ZpNlwpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Just 4 Ingredients</span></b><br />1. <b>Fruit</b> -&nbsp; You can use fresh fruit or frozen.&nbsp; You could use other fruit instead of berries.&nbsp; If you use any larger fruits (strawberries, peach slices, etc.) just cut them up small.&nbsp; Of course some fruits will be less juicy requiring a little less chia seeds, so it may take a little trial and error for dryer types of fruits.<br /><br />2. <b>Chia Seeds</b> - a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber, these little seeds will thicken up your jam perfectly in a matter of hours as it cools.&nbsp; A quick note about chia seeds.&nbsp; They can lose their thickening ability as they age.&nbsp; If you have seeds that have been in your pantry for some time, they may not set the jam very well.<br /><br />3. <b>Maple Syrup, Date Syrup, or Honey</b> (or any other sweetener) - just a touch of natural sweetener, if you like, adds a compliment to the fruit but doesn't overpower it.&nbsp; *A quick note - your jam will taste sweeter when it's hot then when it cools. So don't get too concerned if it seems too sweet.&nbsp; Let it cool and taste it again.*<br /><br />4. <b>Lemon Juice</b> - this little bit of acid adds a complimentary brightness to the jam.&nbsp; Balsamic vinegar is a nice substitution in strawberry jam.&nbsp; If you don't have it, you can omit it, but it does round out the flavor nicely.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q78GP8XI-do/Xpn7N71D0ZI/AAAAAAAAUUA/yaRCD90X-pswz4bmUjrxhkaJJNsYDl3zACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q78GP8XI-do/Xpn7N71D0ZI/AAAAAAAAUUA/yaRCD90X-pswz4bmUjrxhkaJJNsYDl3zACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Stir, Smash, or Blend</b></span><br />You can make this jam the texture you desire. <br />- You can stir it up, smashing it only slightly, allowing some of the juices to release but leaving much of the fruit intact. <br />- You can smash it up, allowing all of the juices to release, making a less chunky jam but still quite a bit of texture. <br />- Or, you can smash it, allow the juices to release, and then, using a handheld blender, blend the fruit up making a smoother texture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTI_ESxx4V0/Xpn7NzBf-EI/AAAAAAAAUUE/DJ3sRkewpac35YH4vGoHk5ucNq6ShieFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTI_ESxx4V0/Xpn7NzBf-EI/AAAAAAAAUUE/DJ3sRkewpac35YH4vGoHk5ucNq6ShieFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/berry-chia-jam1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;"><b>Master Recipe:&nbsp; Berry Chia Seed Jam</b></span><br /><br />1 Pound of Berries, or other fruit, fresh or frozen (no need to thaw)<br />2 - 4 Tablespoons Honey, Maple Syrup, Date Syrup, or other sweetener (*use 2 Tablespoons for very lightly sweet - see note above regarding sweeteners)<br />1 teaspoon Lemon Juice<br />2 Tablespoons Whole Chia Seeds<br />optional: you can add a pinch of cinnamon and/or a tiny pinch of nutmeg. Cinnamon is particularly good in blueberry jam!<br /><br />Prepare your fruit.&nbsp; Wash and allow to dry if fresh.&nbsp; If using fresh strawberries, hull and chop them into smaller pieces.&nbsp; Raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries, or blueberries can be left whole.<br /><br />Add prepared fruit, sweetener, and lemon juice to a pan over medium heat.&nbsp; Stir as the fruit heats up, and use a spoon or masher to mash the fruit in order to release the juices.&nbsp; Simmer for about 5 minutes.&nbsp; Remove from heat.&nbsp; Use a masher or handheld blender (if you prefer it smoother) to gently mash the fruit.&nbsp; Stir in the chia seeds.<br /><br />Transfer to container.&nbsp; Allow to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate.&nbsp; Let sit at least 5 hours before serving.<br /><br />Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.<br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-18091729255826617172020-04-11T10:30:00.000-04:002020-04-11T10:30:00.193-04:00How I Learned To Live With Less<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn7mTBVbScg/XpG6Ifo7t7I/AAAAAAAAUTQ/2q12D7U4XPIJ3PIfx34CG7C-Ivyky0xVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn7mTBVbScg/XpG6Ifo7t7I/AAAAAAAAUTQ/2q12D7U4XPIJ3PIfx34CG7C-Ivyky0xVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less2.jpg" /></a></div><br />I've spent a pretty good amount of my adulthood chasing things I thought would make me happy.&nbsp; Raised by parents who also had a lot of stuff, it was my norm.&nbsp; I learned that possessions would increase my self-worth and lead to a happier life.&nbsp; I was always comparing myself to other people who had more or better things.&nbsp; And I was miserable.&nbsp; The more stuff I had, the more stuff I wanted and I dreamt of finally achieving that dream salary so I could buy all that I felt I needed and wanted.&nbsp; When I achieved these, I reasoned, THEN I would be happy. <br /><br />I remember eventually putting actual dollar figures on my happiness.&nbsp; I lived for years wishing for a certain salary.&nbsp; I knew if I hit that amount I would finally feel like I'd made it.&nbsp; Like I'd finally achieved success and happiness.&nbsp; Well, I did hit that dollar amount.&nbsp; I was stressed, worked a ridiculous amount of hours, and wore busyness like a badge of honor.&nbsp; But when I achieved it, I was happy.&nbsp; It wasn't long, however, before I wanted to achieve more.&nbsp; I focused not on the enjoyment of what I had achieved but on the fact that I wanted the next step.&nbsp; A quick sidenote - I'm not suggesting that having a drive to achieve more isn't healthy.&nbsp; Delaying happiness until it is achieved or attaching happiness to a goal, however, is unhealthy.&nbsp; And formerly I was the queen of both of these.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7pBHUp4OXA/XpG6Ie9UNdI/AAAAAAAAUTU/TG9af4VaLlwLVSWt4zm5METfy9MeKKzbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="508" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L7pBHUp4OXA/XpG6Ie9UNdI/AAAAAAAAUTU/TG9af4VaLlwLVSWt4zm5METfy9MeKKzbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less1.jpg" /></a></div><br />We live in a world of surfeit stuff.&nbsp; We have access to shopping 24 hours a day online.&nbsp; We are inundated with "perfect" lives on Instagram, facebook, in magazines and on reality (or completely manufactured reality) tv. Our phones listen to our conversations and the next thing you know ads specific to what we like show up on our phone and computer.&nbsp; Advertising surrounds everything we do so much that we are oblivious to to the fact that we are absorbing so much of it.<br /><br />Stuff, and our fondness for it, affects every aspect of our lives.&nbsp; We own larger homes (which we will work to fill up), spend a good amount on organization systems to contain much of our stuff, have garages that are filled to the brim and likely don't fit a vehicle, and store our extra stuff in a rental storage unit which, by the way, are multiplying at an all time high.&nbsp; Our lives are filled with a lot of stuff.<br /><br />We are constantly buying things that will make us happy, but we aren't happy!<br /><br />It's like a feedback loop.&nbsp; The more stuff you have, the more stuff you want.&nbsp; Have you ever decided to update one thing in a room in your home?&nbsp; Maybe it's the wall color.&nbsp; Once the walls are painted and look so good, those curtains that are at least 7 years old just won't cut it anymore.&nbsp; So now you need new curtains.&nbsp; Once the curtains are up, your eyes go to the next outdated item in the room that needs updating.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvMrgfTddpg/XpG6I-aIeJI/AAAAAAAAUTc/hrbmxEcCoeU7uDVrLh60GSqDvDxy02Z5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="451" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lvMrgfTddpg/XpG6I-aIeJI/AAAAAAAAUTc/hrbmxEcCoeU7uDVrLh60GSqDvDxy02Z5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Simplifying my possessions was one of the best things I've ever done.&nbsp; Letting go of the constant pursuit of material things has been, in one word - freeing.&nbsp; I'm not talking about giving everything away, moving into a tiny home and owning 3 pair of pants and 4 shirts.&nbsp; Unless that's what you want to do, of course.&nbsp; Instead, I'm talking about surrounding yourself with things you love.&nbsp; Not things you think you should own, things you think might make you happy, or things that will impress someone visiting your home.&nbsp; Nope.&nbsp; I'm talking about simplifying your possessions down to only the things that you need and/or truly enjoy.&nbsp; No matter the number.<br /><br />I think words are important so I'm not defining my lifestyle as minimalism.&nbsp; Minimalism suggests living with the minimal amount of items.&nbsp; Some even go so far as to put a number on it.&nbsp; That is not for me.&nbsp; I learned early on that although I have an appreciation for minimalism it's just not a lifestyle I should strive for.&nbsp; Instead, I found paring down my possessions to things I love or use really worked for me.&nbsp; I also found that if I reassess every so often I can gradually part with even more things.<br /><br />I've made another discovery on my journey.&nbsp; That discovery is that the only thing better then owning less is <i>wanting</i> less.&nbsp; And that, my friends, has taken more time to achieve.&nbsp; Wanting less starts with owning less.&nbsp; Once you've begun the process of letting things go, the next two natural steps are 1. working on breaking your buying habits (identifying when you are shopping to avoid dealing with feelings or to self-soothe) and 2. practicing self-discipline to change your daily patterns.&nbsp; For me, the self-discipline of making myself wait at least 24 hours before buying something is what was a game changer.&nbsp; It gave me time to think it through and the majority of the time I didn't end up buying what I'd initially really wanted. <br /><br />After making good headway on breaking buying habits and practicing self-discipline, introducing daily gratitude helps round it all out.&nbsp; I learned to take a few minutes in the morning to focus on being grateful for every single thing I had every single day.&nbsp; During the day, when my mind would unconsciously switch to wishing I had something, I would bring it back to gratitude for what I already owned.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQtZO0Qs-GQ/XpG6IqWJqGI/AAAAAAAAUTY/MBJ_-j7mFAMHqv58gEGA4x2aOSPJOD3xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQtZO0Qs-GQ/XpG6IqWJqGI/AAAAAAAAUTY/MBJ_-j7mFAMHqv58gEGA4x2aOSPJOD3xwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/living-with-less3.jpg" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;One additional benefit I didn't anticipate in my journey to wanting less is that when you truly are content with what you have and know it is enough, you will also free yourself from the constant comparison to others.&nbsp; This means letting go of those feelings of inadequacy.&nbsp; Something that becomes a huge burden lifted from your life.&nbsp; It allows you live in abundance - enjoying what you have, finding true happiness with your life, and knowing that what you have is enough.<br /><br />Learning to want less will make living with less a success.<br /><br />Learning to want less and, therefore, live with less is rewarding in so many ways.&nbsp; Not only do you stop wasting money on things you don't love or need, and unburden yourself with the feelings of inadequacy, but it allows for many choices in your life.&nbsp; For me, achieving that last piece of the puzzle, learning to want less, is what allowed us to make the career decision we'd only dreamt of. <br /><br />We had been dreaming of working for ourselves but when looking at our finances we realized we had 3 choices: make more, save more, or want less.&nbsp; Honestly, I hadn't realized that learning to want less is what our missing piece was.&nbsp; Changing the way we made decisions with our finances, rather than focusing on trying to earn more, has not only allowed us to make that leap into self-employment, but has also allowed us to save more money in the bank then we had when we made just over double what we're making today.<br /><br />This is in no way a how-to guide or an instruction manual.&nbsp; If you were looking for that, I sincerely apologize.&nbsp; Instead, what I hope to do is inspire you to do what feels right for you.&nbsp; Take other people's stories and "rules" and use them merely as a guide and ideas for your own journey.&nbsp; If you are inspired by someone who has found happiness in only owning 100 items, use that as a challenge for yourself to question the items you surround yourself with and see what your number is.&nbsp; In an age where social media and advertising imply that everyone else leads perfect lives, it's time for us to detach from what others do and instead, do what's best for us.<br /><br />When you find the balance of having enough it will free you.&nbsp; It will free you to stop chasing happiness and appreciate where you are.&nbsp; Right now.&nbsp; You may not have the largest bank account.&nbsp; You may not make the most money.&nbsp; You may not have the nicest things.&nbsp; But if you have found your "enough" it will make you rich in ways you'd never dreamed.&nbsp; From the people by your side, to the memories that you make, to the joy in your heart.</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-11914278345684097022020-04-05T21:07:00.001-04:002020-04-06T22:08:34.554-04:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dks2Imzf-Zk/Xop8XWG5fLI/AAAAAAAAUSs/tih_A6z526ob08yzeVqDRy5HjEwkUop4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dks2Imzf-Zk/Xop8XWG5fLI/AAAAAAAAUSs/tih_A6z526ob08yzeVqDRy5HjEwkUop4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" /></a></div><br />It was a beautiful weekend in our neck of the woods.&nbsp; I hope it was in yours as well.&nbsp; Yard clean-up was top of the list.&nbsp; I wanted to get the yard tidied up so I can start working in the garden this week.&nbsp; We had hoped to have mulch delivered so I could tackle that as well but it seems we are a bit early on our planning and it can't be delivered until this week or next week.&nbsp; That's ok, I'll get it going on the next decent day.<br /><br />We have to make a trip to the grocery store this week.&nbsp; Not something I'm looking forward to.&nbsp; I'm hoping to get in, find what we need, and get out.&nbsp; We've completely run out of fresh veggies (we still have frozen) and are almost out of fruit.&nbsp; We also want to stock back up on a few pantry items, a bit more meat for Jay and some dairy &amp; non-dairy too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2DxzpN48Mg/Xop8WgLOgjI/AAAAAAAAUSk/h0vvlg12ZJcAQVID4CY-YXUAuuMDJQFEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2DxzpN48Mg/Xop8WgLOgjI/AAAAAAAAUSk/h0vvlg12ZJcAQVID4CY-YXUAuuMDJQFEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br />I certainly hope this finds you and your family doing well.&nbsp; It's a scary time for everyone that I think will make an impact on us all for the remainder of our lives.&nbsp; All we can do is to try and make that a positive impact.&nbsp; Find some lessons to learn from this difficult time that may make our lives a bit better.<br /><br />The links I'm sharing at the end of this post are all food related in hopes to provide you ideas or recipes you may need during our shelter-in-place.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnzunomjkvM/Xop8WlWa0CI/AAAAAAAAUSg/6jl-RZY44wkrDu1mh-a07V0vUSGJnkNzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fnzunomjkvM/Xop8WlWa0CI/AAAAAAAAUSg/6jl-RZY44wkrDu1mh-a07V0vUSGJnkNzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">do you see those piles in the yard past the coop?&nbsp; those are our raking piles.&nbsp; we haven't loaded them into the truck yet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Coop Girls</span></i></b> - they are doing really well.&nbsp; They love this time of the year because the snow is (finally) gone and they can dig and scratch and forage to their hearts content.&nbsp; Egg production remains high so we've been giving them away for free to our community while we are not attending the market.&nbsp; We've been told that eggs can be hard to get (not surprising) right now, so our hope is that those who need them can enjoy them.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQO0hE9zsCU/Xop8XvQ4xkI/AAAAAAAAUSw/nVaxUlrXhGEq2_Tny84NxlOodamq5Ln9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQO0hE9zsCU/Xop8XvQ4xkI/AAAAAAAAUSw/nVaxUlrXhGEq2_Tny84NxlOodamq5Ln9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">did you know that Ollie does yoga?</td></tr></tbody></table><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Oliver</span></i></b> - Ollie is doing good.&nbsp; We haven't been taking him to the park because the last time we went it was absolutely packed so we didn't walk.&nbsp; It's hard because everyone just wants to get out and there's only so many places to walk.&nbsp; We'll wait until the quarantine is over.&nbsp; Because his stomach is so sensitive and I've only been successful in finding one food he can eat I stocked up on it.&nbsp; So I find comfort in knowing he's good for another 2 months.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sOl02jn5-Ac/Xop8XJyB6WI/AAAAAAAAUSo/1dCaUX4V-5MraziG0MRyvDBMN2q34Ww6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sOl02jn5-Ac/Xop8XJyB6WI/AAAAAAAAUSo/1dCaUX4V-5MraziG0MRyvDBMN2q34Ww6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jack.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Jack</span></i></b> - oh brother.&nbsp; He's been something else.&nbsp; His naughty pants are at an all-time high again.&nbsp; He is back to posturing and lunging at Oliver anytime I'm not right by his side.&nbsp; He's such a brat.&nbsp; Jack is very very funny but very very annoying.&nbsp; Oliver sleeps in a pack &amp; play in our bedroom at night.&nbsp; Jack was going through a phase of jumping in it in the middle of the night and getting in Oliver's face and scaring him.&nbsp; So we went through trying to keep Jack out of our bedroom (he shook the door and cried all night) and eventually the trauma of it all made him stop. <br /><br />Now Jack is jumping into Oliver's pack &amp; play during the day.&nbsp; (mind you, he has boxes, blankets, teepees and beds, that are his, throughout the whole house...) The problem, is that I'm afraid he will do this overnight as well because he loves it so much.&nbsp; So, I've found a way to stop him.&nbsp; I call it my "Jack trap" and let me tell you, it is funny.&nbsp; I took a piece of netting that we use to keep the birds away from our fruit trees and clamp it onto the frame of the pack &amp; play once we get up in the morning.&nbsp; As you know, Jack isn't the brightest lamp in the park so he continues to try to jump into the pack &amp; play throughout the day and freaks out when he hits the netting.&nbsp; His hair goes straight up, his ears go back, and he shakes his head like "whoa....what was THAT????"&nbsp; Sometimes he tries it a second time (again, not bright....) and eventually settles for our bed.&nbsp; But he keeps on trying!&nbsp; He really is something else.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDNxPCyzEDk/Xop9xiuRuWI/AAAAAAAAUTI/S-7Qq2KEO54C-LYnMej0Ut7pvc0V0x79wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/no-knead-bread1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bDNxPCyzEDk/Xop9xiuRuWI/AAAAAAAAUTI/S-7Qq2KEO54C-LYnMej0Ut7pvc0V0x79wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/no-knead-bread1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Cooking</span></i></b> - Hopefully you're taking this opportunity to cook and bake your way through your pantry.&nbsp; Using up any ingredients you purchased for a recipe that you never made, or because it looked good, or even because it was on sale or really cheap.&nbsp; I had some items in each of these categories ( I'm talking to you quinoa flour, xanthan gum, umeboshi plums, and harissa paste).&nbsp; A cleaned out pantry will be the perfect space for, at some point, stocking up on only our true pantry essentials.<br /><br />On that same note, it's also a good opportunity, I realized, to go thru kitchen gadgets and purge.&nbsp; If you aren't using it while you're making so much from scratch, do you really need to keep it?&nbsp; I found some items that are going to be relocated once we can donate them.<br /><br />I'm grateful that I already had enough flour and yeast in the pantry and freezer.&nbsp; We don't use either a lot so I know we are set for some time.&nbsp; I've had a small bag of Einkorn flour in the freezer for a few months that I've been meaning to work with.&nbsp; This past week I decided it was time to try some recipes.&nbsp; The first Einkorn bread recipe I tried was a no-knead one and it was not good.&nbsp; It was fairly flat, dense and crumbly.&nbsp; Disappointing.&nbsp; Next I went to <a href="https://jovialfoods.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Jovial's website</span></b></a> (something I should have done from the beginning) and found their <a href="https://jovialfoods.com/recipes/new-einkorn-sandwich-bread-recipe/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Einkorn Sandwich bread</span></b></a> and hit upon a winner.&nbsp; I would purchase more of this flour to create this bread recipe again and would like to try it in sourdough too.<br /><br />I've been trying to keep my schedule of meal prep on Saturdays.&nbsp; This usually is cutting up any veggies, making a big pot of beans I'll use that week (this week it was pintos), making quinoa for salads, making bread or bread dough, and anything else that helps out for meals.&nbsp; I made a batch of vegan meatballs (recipe from <a href="https://minimalistbaker.com/the-best-vegan-meatballs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Minimalist Baker</span></b></a>) that turned out really good.&nbsp; Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.&nbsp; I used a few last night and put the rest in the freezer for use later.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9TNUGRCrUXc/Xop8WhY_1TI/AAAAAAAAUSc/CKmJfBY70d4_IRi8B21xwuohBB-rvB4YQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cobble-hill-farm-soap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9TNUGRCrUXc/Xop8WhY_1TI/AAAAAAAAUSc/CKmJfBY70d4_IRi8B21xwuohBB-rvB4YQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cobble-hill-farm-soap.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Business</span></i></b> - We've significantly slowed down our manufacturing for 3 reasons really: our sales are slower since they are online only (quite busy, but slower than normal); we have no idea when things will pick back up to "normal" again or, alternatively, what our new normal might be and we don't want shelves of stock just sitting there; which brings us to the third reason, practicing judicial money management to get through this. &nbsp; We are fine (and will be fine), but it's the responsible and prudent thing to do for us and for the business.<br /><br />Anywhoo, this has allowed us extra time to get other things done.&nbsp; We've been checking off some "to do" items on our list, jumping into spring projects early, and actually getting to things we've held on each of our "someday" mental lists.&nbsp; One for me is to make vegan cheese.&nbsp; I know, I know, just the thought likely makes you squeam, but for those of us who can't eat dairy, it's all we've got.&nbsp; I've found a couple of store-bought cheeses that are good, but they contain way too much oil and some have suspect ingredients.&nbsp; So, I'm hoping our shopping trip this week will score me some of the ingredients required to try fermenting for the purposes of making my own vegan cheese. <br /><br />It's the little things.....isn't it?<br /><br /><br /><br />Hoping you had a wonderful weekend and that you and your family stay safe and healthy.<br /><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Link Love:</span></i></b><br />A few recipes on this blog:<br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/the-most-delicious-no-knead-artisan.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">No Knead Artisan Bread</span></b></a>, SUPER easy and includes recipes for white, wheat, and gluten flour<br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/10/make-ahead-freezer-breakfast-burritos.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Freezer Breakfast Burritos</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2013/08/homemade-living-making-your-own-spice.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">16 Homemade Spice &amp; Seasoning Blends</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/01/the-best-deviled-eggs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The BEST Deviled Eggs</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/07/secret-ingredient-potato-salad.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Secret Ingredient Potato Salad</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/04/homemade-enchilada-sauce-easy-and-clean.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Homemade Enchilada Sauce</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/10/quick-easy-meal-skillet-spaghetti.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Quick &amp; Easy Skillet Spaghetti</span></b></a><br /><br />And a few from other blogs:<br /><a href="https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/20-easy-sourdough-recipes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">20+ Sourdough Recipes</span></b></a>, including how to create and maintain a starter (<i>Farmhouse on Boone</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.prudentpennypincher.com/100-cheap-easy-pantry-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">100 Cheap &amp; Easy Pantry Meals</span></b></a> (<i>Prudent Penny Pincher</i>)<br /><a href="https://cookieandkate.com/food-storage-tips/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Food Storage Tips</span></b></a>, to help your food last longer (<i>Cookie &amp; Kate</i>)<br /><a href="https://cookieandkate.com/pantry-friendly-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">50 Pantry Recipes &amp; Substitutions</span></b></a> (<i>Cookie &amp; Kate</i>)<br /><a href="https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2020/04/01/healthy-easter-candy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Healthy Homemade Easter Candy</span></b></a> (<i>Chocolate Covered Katie</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.livingonadime.com/easy-eggless-dessert-recipes-home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">14 Easy Eggless Desserts</span></b></a> (<i>Living On A Dime</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.livingonadime.com/cheap-chicken-dinner-recipes-7-dollars/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">10 Cheap Chicken Dinners</span></b></a> (<i>Living On A Dime</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/honey-beer-bread/?fbclid=IwAR1SvIVD_mjlvYVkjwahNVFiaxjFgONbsSIJa7cHvlqYQMEtjW5IsgO026w" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Honey Beer Bread</span></b></a>, we made this last weekend and it was very good.&nbsp; Great recipe if you don't have any yeast on hand. (<i>Gimme Some Oven</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.acouplecooks.com/best-bean-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">50 Best Beans Recipes</span></b></a> (<i>A Couple Cooks</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.acouplecooks.com/easy-garlic-naan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Easy Garlic Naan</span></b></a> (<i>A Couple Cooks</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/10-homemade-pantry-staples-that-save-money/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">10 Homemade Pantry Staples</span></b></a> (<i>One Good Thing By Jillee</i>)<br /><a href="https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/easy-pantry-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">100+ Easy Pantry Recipes</span></b></a> (<i>Gimme Some Oven</i>)<br /><a href="https://downshiftology.com/recipes/how-to-make-oat-milk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">How To Make Oat Milk</span></b></a>, because I have not been successful in finding oat milk locally and think maybe you are struggling to find it too. (<i>Downshiftology</i>)<br /><a href="https://whatsgabycooking.com/16-of-the-best-chicken-thigh-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">16 Of The Best Chicken Thigh Recipes</span></b></a> (<i>What's Gaby Cooking</i>)<br /><a href="https://iamafoodblog.com/super-chocolatey-extra-small-batch-brownies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Extra Small Batch Chocolatey Brownies</span></b></a> (<i>I Am A Food Blog</i>)<br /><a href="https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2020/04/05/peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies</span></b></a>, no eggs &amp; no flour. (<i>Chocolate Covered Katie</i>) <i><span style="color: #666666;">*update: I tried these.&nbsp; I added half of the honey called for and they were delicious!&nbsp; Next time, if I have any peanuts I'll add some chopped peanuts and reduce the oats.*</span></i><br /><i></i><span style="color: #666666;"></span><br />I hope these links help you find some new winning dishes!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-8581236757376498542020-04-02T15:35:00.000-04:002020-04-02T16:04:04.930-04:00Planning Our Summer Garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMaKGi9o-FU/XoY9LkAd_rI/AAAAAAAAUR8/D-bE7AYYqdMQu2HVOmqoSe_joLpFwBAmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMaKGi9o-FU/XoY9LkAd_rI/AAAAAAAAUR8/D-bE7AYYqdMQu2HVOmqoSe_joLpFwBAmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-5.jpg" /></a></div><br />I am so excited to report that I am starting my work in the garden this weekend!&nbsp; The snow is gone, for the most part, and I have a few remaining raised beds from last year that I can plant first.&nbsp; We (meaning my husband...) have to build more beds because we moved things around last fall.&nbsp; We (husband) also have agreed to build us (me) a cold frame, a small coop in the garden area, and a FENCE!!!! <br /><br />I am so excited.<br /><br />It's been a few years of discussion and I am told that it will finally all come together this year.&nbsp; The small coop was a new "to-do" list addition because I had the (brilliant) idea of closing the coop girls in the garden area in spring and fall to allow them to clean up the beds.&nbsp; (it also will work to keep them and other wildlife out during the growing season, of course) Without the fencing it's nearly impossible to keep them focused on the garden beds, so fencing and a nesting box area (as well as shade, food and water) is a necessity. <br /><br />And the man with the skills (and tools) agrees.<br /><br />So, with that hurdle gone, the next hurdle was purchasing seeds.&nbsp; Have you attempted this yet?&nbsp; My goodness, I hope so.&nbsp; It's way worse then years past, which I'm not surprised by.&nbsp; Unfortunately I attempted it a bit late but I found just about everything I needed to add to my seeds that I've saved.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkagMAC75WY/XoY9LfFL7JI/AAAAAAAAUR4/GcYsdKmnOu8AOZoR1nOQR3QTi8xJdMx2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KkagMAC75WY/XoY9LfFL7JI/AAAAAAAAUR4/GcYsdKmnOu8AOZoR1nOQR3QTi8xJdMx2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-4.jpg" /></a></div><br />I determined what I will plant/not plant (and quantity) based on garden space and what we eat. <br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I eat raw <b>greens</b> every day, usually 3 times a day.&nbsp; So I purchased a LOT of seeds for greens all season and then in the cold frame.&nbsp; This includes <b>lettuces, salad greens/mesclun mix, spinach, dandelion</b>,<b> arugula</b>, and <b>baby kale</b>.</li><li>We've been eating a lot of <b>beets</b>, so I purchased quite a few more beet seeds then we've had in the past.&nbsp; I'll plant them spring and late summer.</li><li><b>Carrots</b> and <b>onions</b> are great fresh but they also store well in the fall/winter, so we'll do 2 plantings of each of them.</li><li>We add <b>kale</b> to soup and stews so I'll plant enough to freeze for fall/winter use.</li><li>I am the only one who eats <b>mustard</b>, <b>collards</b> and <b>swiss chard</b>.&nbsp; I add these to soups and stews, but also sauté as a side dish, and use collards as a burrito-type wrap.&nbsp; I won't plant too many of these.</li><li>We eat and freeze a LOT of <b>bell peppers</b>.&nbsp; We have a local pick-your-own farm that we can get these from as well, but we always try to grow enough for fresh eating and freezing (we freeze 8 gallon sized bags of sliced peppers to get us through winter).&nbsp; We aren't always successful at growing that many so Labor Day weekend we can pick them locally if needed.</li><li>I typically plant a little bit of <b>corn</b> because we like to pick it fresh.&nbsp; We typically, however, purchase it from a local farm in a very large quantity.&nbsp; We eat it fresh and freeze enough to get us through winter and spring.</li><li>We absolutely love <b>brussels sprouts</b>, however, they take up a large amount of space so I won't be planting them this year.&nbsp; Instead we'll purchase them from the farmer's market.</li><li>I always plant too many <b>summer squash</b>/<b>zucchini</b> (usually 8 plants, 4 of each), and will likely do so this year as well.&nbsp; We love it sautéed, baked, grilled, raw in salads and used in baking, so it all works out.&nbsp; I freeze just a little bit, grated, for baking.</li><li>We like fresh <b>cucumbers</b> and quick-pickled cucumbers so I usually plant about 10 plants.&nbsp; I don't can or ferment pickles because they are too salty and we don't eat them.&nbsp;</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNg80O-ylr8/XoY9KwIkh1I/AAAAAAAAUR0/OTvrXEJErN8HLRkkPCHJ7uaJ-nSvWUKCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="658" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNg80O-ylr8/XoY9KwIkh1I/AAAAAAAAUR0/OTvrXEJErN8HLRkkPCHJ7uaJ-nSvWUKCACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-3.jpg" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I won't have enough room to plant all of the <b>tomatoes</b> that we would need.&nbsp; We eat them fresh quite frequently and then we plan to can tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes as well as freeze oven-roasted tomatoes.&nbsp; I will also try a couple new salsa recipes for canning this year.&nbsp; I will plant enough for fresh-eating and oven-roasting and we will pick, from the same farm we pick peppers at, enough for canning.</li><li>I have struggled with <b>potatoes</b> on and off.&nbsp; I'll only plant 6 or 8 this year and we'll purchase the remainder from our farmer's market.</li><li>I have only grown <b>sweet potatoes</b> once before.&nbsp; They were easy, but I wasn't eating them as much as I am now, so I've chosen to save garden space for other veggies in the past. This year, however, I will be planting quite a few for Oliver and myself to enjoy.</li><li>I have never had good luck with <b>watermelon</b> or <b>cantaloupe</b>.&nbsp; It's a bummer because we eat them a lot. &nbsp; I've decided to just purchase them from the farmer's market, as I inevitably have to do when the plants fail, rather than continue trying them.&nbsp; Some day I'll try them again.</li><li>I eat <b>broccoli</b> every single day and Jay enjoys it as well so I will grow a lot of it for fresh eating and for freezing.&nbsp; I'll do 2 large plantings of it.</li><li>I also eat a lot of <b>cauliflower</b> and Jay enjoys it from time-to-time.&nbsp; I'll do 2 moderate plantings of this as well and we'll eat some fresh and freeze the remainder.</li><li>My fence (I'm told) won't be built until late summer/early fall, so I'm going to fence off one bed to grow <b>cabbage</b> in.&nbsp; It seems that all of the wildlife that passes through our yard loves to feast on my cabbage, so hopefully this will allow us to harvest it before others take bites from each head.&nbsp; I was not successful in getting seeds for red cabbage, so green is the only one I will be planting.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pA2jE1vsWo/XoY9L65T_hI/AAAAAAAAUSA/5C0kYw8or5cjVDaSAq7DBFlT6iSvR2CHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="650" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pA2jE1vsWo/XoY9L65T_hI/AAAAAAAAUSA/5C0kYw8or5cjVDaSAq7DBFlT6iSvR2CHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-6.jpg" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We really like fresh <b>kohlrabi</b> so I'll plant probably 8-12 plants for fresh eating.</li><li>I found that freezing <b>jalapeno peppers</b> &amp; <b>poblano peppers</b> worked really well for us this year. I'll plant 5-6 jalapeno plants so we can enjoy some fresh, pickle some for canning, and then freeze both diced jalapenos and stuffed jalapenos.&nbsp; For the poblanos, I'll plan on 5-6 plants so we can grill them and store in the freezer for use in soup, enchiladas, tacos or for stuffing.</li><li>I've had great success with <b>tomatillos</b> in the past so I'll plant probably 3-4 plants for fresh tomatillo sauce and salsa this summer.</li><li>We are growing <b>mushrooms</b> for the first time this year.&nbsp; We bought shiitake plugs and then a boxed set for button mushrooms.&nbsp; We shall see how that goes.&nbsp; I'm not sure if it will be financially worth it or not. &nbsp; I think if we get comfortable with it and can switch to purchasing sawdust spawn then it would be a cost savings (for the shiitake).&nbsp; Not sure about the button mushrooms though.&nbsp; I'll have to keep looking for better pricing to grow your own.&nbsp; Comparatively, a 24 oz. package of button mushrooms are just over $4.00 at BJ's (when groceries are plentiful) so it will depend on how many this box produces.&nbsp; The claim is "up to" 6 pounds.&nbsp; We eat quite a lot of them so it would be nice if we can make it work.</li><li>We love <b>green beans</b>.&nbsp; We eat a lot fresh but we actually don't mind them frozen.&nbsp; I know a lot of people are turned off by their texture, but we still enjoy them so I usually grow a lot of these.&nbsp; I'm going to try two new varieties this year as well.</li><li><b>Sugar snap peas</b> are something we munch on all spring.&nbsp; I am planting tons of these this month because I can use their space for cucumbers once they are done.&nbsp; We freeze any excess (although we don't usually have much excess).&nbsp; I haven't been planting <b>shelling peas</b> and won't be doing so this year.&nbsp; I do love them in salads so maybe next year.</li><li>I've planted <b>celery</b> in the past and I have some seeds so I may plant a little bit.&nbsp; I like to dice it and use it in salads and freeze it for soup.</li><li>We don't eat a lot of <b>eggplant</b> but we do enjoy a few dishes such as baba ganoush and eggplant parm in the fall so I always plant 3-4 plants and will do so this year.</li><li>I've started eating more <b>radish</b> so I'll probably increase my planting this year and do 2 plantings instead of just a spring planting.</li><li>We don't enjoy <b>parsnips, turnips, fennel</b> or <b>okra</b> (it's ok in soup but not my favorite) so I won't be planting these.&nbsp; And <b>leeks</b> give Jay migraine's so we haven't had them since we figured that out about 14 years ago.&nbsp;</li><li>We eat quite a bit of <b>winter squash</b> and our favorites are <b>blue hubbard</b> and <b>sugar pumpkin</b>.&nbsp; They take up a lot of space so I usually plant only a couple plants of each of those and a couple each of <b>delicata, acorn,</b> and <b>butternut</b>.&nbsp; If I have space I'll do that but with the increase plantings of the other veggies, I may default to the farmer's market and the pick-your-own field.</li><li>I adore <b>bok choy</b> both in stir fry and miso soup (Jay will eat it but it isn't his favorite) so I'll plant a few plants of it.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrtJTmQqGuw/XoY9KjtnIeI/AAAAAAAAURs/Q1SvQi5EWi8bYydFfx7B614s9Thj8griQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrtJTmQqGuw/XoY9KjtnIeI/AAAAAAAAURs/Q1SvQi5EWi8bYydFfx7B614s9Thj8griQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-1.jpg" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We have <b>horseradish</b> and <b>asparagus</b> already planted.&nbsp; Best decision ever!&nbsp; Our <b>rhubarb</b> is no longer around and I probably won't worry about that this year.&nbsp; I would like to add more <b>blueberry</b> bushes and maybe another <b>fruit tree</b> to round out our fruit.&nbsp; We currently have a <b>grafted pear</b> <b>tree</b> (6 varieties) and an <b>Asian pear tree</b> as well as a couple <b>elderberry</b> <b>bushes</b>.&nbsp; We have a <b>paw paw tree</b> too but I keep forgetting to order another and there aren't any available locally.&nbsp; It needs to cross pollinate.&nbsp; Someday I will remember to do this before they are sold out.&nbsp; We planted <b>thornless blackberry</b> two years ago so hopefully it will produce this year. &nbsp;</li><li>I will plant <b>herbs</b> continuously throughout summer in containers on the deck again.&nbsp; It worked really well last year.&nbsp; I usually plant <b>dill, basil, cilantro, oregano, chives, mint, thyme, sage</b>, and <b>parsley</b>.&nbsp; I dry what we don't use fresh for use later in the year.</li><li>I'm not planting <b>shelling beans</b> this year but would like to do so next year.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C3YnoRCOt08/XoY9K0Lg87I/AAAAAAAAURw/wLiuKHw1r5cUlielUHQ214WqtlAuj2VcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C3YnoRCOt08/XoY9K0Lg87I/AAAAAAAAURw/wLiuKHw1r5cUlielUHQ214WqtlAuj2VcwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to cut down what produce I buy from the grocery store throughout the winter.&nbsp; I typically purchase mushrooms, greens, broccoli, carrots, onions, tomatoes (for salsa), potatoes, cilantro, and fruit regularly.&nbsp; We always freeze enough corn, peppers (bell/jalapeno/poblano), berries, and green beans to get us to the start of summer.&nbsp; I also keep winter squash in our basement as well as freeze some. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This year I hope to grow enough greens throughout winter in the cold frame, micro greens in the basement, and find a good canned salsa recipe to cut those off of the grocery list.&nbsp; Also I need to freeze enough broccoli &amp; cauliflower (I prefer it fresh, but frozen is fine for winter), carrots, and onions to keep those off of the list as well.&nbsp; This way I would only need mushrooms, potatoes and fruit in addition to pantry staples, meat and dairy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WsX8elA4jE8/XoY9MWLr2jI/AAAAAAAAUSE/fsK9O8Q4UNAjIsCRRUK1ZmUQxN1fh3iFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WsX8elA4jE8/XoY9MWLr2jI/AAAAAAAAUSE/fsK9O8Q4UNAjIsCRRUK1ZmUQxN1fh3iFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/garden2020-7.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-large;">What about you?&nbsp; What will you be planting this year?</span></b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-55847503488297363462020-03-26T12:05:00.000-04:002020-04-03T11:53:06.810-04:00Yogurt + Flour = The BEST English Muffins You've Ever Had!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocn2aNEbPLE/XnuxSmlJOAI/AAAAAAAAURA/WdYVaOCJCEMH0vA3RELhnTxDNMt4aGn1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ocn2aNEbPLE/XnuxSmlJOAI/AAAAAAAAURA/WdYVaOCJCEMH0vA3RELhnTxDNMt4aGn1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins6.jpg" /></a></div><br />These muffins are one of the easiest things to make that I've ever made, use only 2 ingredients, and are ready in less then an hour.&nbsp; What can be better then that????&nbsp; While I don't know that I can actually call them "English muffins" because there is definitely a difference in ingredients, they look like them but they taste sooooo much better.<br /><br />I stumbled upon a recipe that wasn't in English but looked intriguing.&nbsp; I figured out the measurements and made it.&nbsp; While it was definitely very good, I knew it could be even better.&nbsp; I adjusted the ingredients just slightly, made them a bit bigger, and ta-da!&nbsp; It resulted in some superb little muffins.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pChIHS93fY8/XnuxTuG7jHI/AAAAAAAAURk/dcFxYpWK2QglI6pK3m4GZCVRjHb0ko49wCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pChIHS93fY8/XnuxTuG7jHI/AAAAAAAAURk/dcFxYpWK2QglI6pK3m4GZCVRjHb0ko49wCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins8.jpg" /></a></div><br />I thought this recipe may be especially important right now, while much of the country is quarantined and trying to make do with the food they have in their house.&nbsp; There is no kneading, no complicated instructions, and no experience making bread required. <br /><br />Honestly, anyone can make these.<br /><br />If you want to make more than 8 of these muffins, I don't think I would double the recipe because it could get difficult to work with since it's quite sticky.&nbsp; Instead, I would make 2 separate batches. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PeumEgW0Pig/XnuxP_IMmbI/AAAAAAAAURU/jyUuoxHjg-YggOwtYJTJIrUrL4uzGxVUQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="637" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PeumEgW0Pig/XnuxP_IMmbI/AAAAAAAAURU/jyUuoxHjg-YggOwtYJTJIrUrL4uzGxVUQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins11.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>What You'll Need:</b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">self-rising flour</span></b> (I never keep this on hand, so don't sweat it if you don't either.&nbsp; Instead, I make it by adding baking powder and salt to all-purpose flour - amounts listed below)</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">yogurt</span></b> (I used non-dairy coconut milk yogurt so any type you have on hand will do. If you only have Greek yogurt on hand I would guess you may need to add a couple tablespoons of milk or water to it to thin it out, but I've not tried it so I'm not positive.)</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a large mixing bowl</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a sifter</span></b> (I used a mesh strainer.&nbsp; I have not made it without sifting but I believe it could probably be done with good results - it would likely make it a more dense crumb.)</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a wooden spoon or rubber spatula</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a skillet</span></b> (I used non-stick but you don't have to.&nbsp; If you're using anything else you would want to brush a tiny amount of oil on the skillet before putting the muffins in.)</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a lid that fits the skillet</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a sharp knife</span></b></li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">a spatula</span></b></li><li><span style="color: #444444;"><b>oil </b>(only if not using a non-stick skillet)</span></li><li><span style="color: #444444;"><b>a silicone brush, piece of cloth, or a paper towel</b> (only if not using a non-stick skillet)</span></li><li><span style="color: #444444;"><b>wire cooling rack</b> (if you don't have one you can use an oven rack, a toaster oven rack, or a roasting pan rack in a pinch)</span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5HoYiCP54dY/XnuxUCWp9AI/AAAAAAAAURg/Vi8qVXCwMvQORJ8QiDWvHxvltGChPl8iQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="596" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5HoYiCP54dY/XnuxUCWp9AI/AAAAAAAAURg/Vi8qVXCwMvQORJ8QiDWvHxvltGChPl8iQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins9.jpg" /></a></div><b></b><br /></div><div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>How To Eat</b></span></div><div>They are their absolute best the day you make them.&nbsp; If you eat one shortly after making them you may not be left with any leftovers.... <br /><br />That being said, what we've discovered is that once they are a day or more old they are a bit more dense (no yeast = no air pockets) making them hold up beautifully for breakfast sandwiches, breakfast pizza or mini pizzas.&nbsp; Toast or grill them first and then top and enjoy!<br /><br />Some ideas to use them include:</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Toast them</span></b> - If they happen to last longer than once you remove them from the skillet, you can cut them in half and toast them just like an English muffin.</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Sliced and any topping added</span></b> - jam, nut butter, nutella, cinnamon &amp; sugar, butter, whatever your heart desires.</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Sandwich</span></b> - They would be perfect for making a breakfast sandwich out of.</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Breakfast Pizza</span></b> - almost like an open faced breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, chunks of cooked ham or sausage, and topped with cheese put under the broiler until the cheese is melted.</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Eggs Benedict</span></b> - they would be the perfect bread to add the poached egg, Canadian bacon, and bechamel sauce to.</li><li><b><span style="color: #444444;">Mini Lunch Pizza</span></b> - a little tomato sauce, a few pizza toppings and topped with cheese put under the broiler until the cheese is melted.</li></ul><div>On to the recipe!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLvU0QsrxYY/XnuxSEHpymI/AAAAAAAAURo/Mub9cF_ncbUrF8BoPIy8U9931-BM1QJggCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLvU0QsrxYY/XnuxSEHpymI/AAAAAAAAURo/Mub9cF_ncbUrF8BoPIy8U9931-BM1QJggCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins5.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>2 Ingredient Homemade English Muffins</b></span></div><div><span style="color: black;">Makes 8 muffins</span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>3 cups self-rising flour </b>(alternatively, use 3 cups all-purpose flour + 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder + 1 teaspoon salt and whisk together)</li><li><b>2 cups yogurt</b> (as mentioned above, dairy or non-dairy regular yogurt)</li><li><b>2 Tablespoons oil </b>(only needed if not using a non-stick skillet)</li></ul><div>Add the yogurt to a microwave-safe mixing bowl.&nbsp; Microwave 35-50 seconds, or until warm.&nbsp; Stir with a spoon or spatula.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sift the flour (or flour mixture) into the yogurt.&nbsp; With a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, carefully stir the flour in, working the outside of the bowl to the inside of the bowl.&nbsp; The dough will look shaggy and be sticky.&nbsp; Once the flour is almost completely incorporated, using your hand, turn the dough a couple of times in the bowl and then dump out onto a lightly floured counter.&nbsp; Mold and turn a couple of times just until you can mold it into a fairly smooth log about 11 inches long.</div><div><br /></div><div>Using a sharp knife, cut the log in half.&nbsp; Cut each half in half and then again, cut each of those in half so you have a total of 8 pieces.&nbsp; (the dough is very forgiving - if you accidentally make some too large you can remoe a piece and add it to a smaller one to create uniform pieces)&nbsp; Gently roll each piece into a little ball, using a little flour if needed, but don't add too much.&nbsp; Lay the ball on the counter and press it down lightly, creating flat sides on the top and bottom (see photo below).&nbsp; Repeat with each piece.&nbsp; Allow to rest for 15 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pre-heat an uncovered skillet over low-heat for 4-5 minutes.&nbsp; Once it's ready, brush with a teaspoon of oil if not using a non-stick skillet (use a silicone brush or even a cloth or piece of paper towel).&nbsp; If you are using a non-stick pan, oil is not necessary.&nbsp; Add as many muffins as will fit in the pan without touching.&nbsp; They do rise a little and need some space to do so.&nbsp; Cover and cook for 12 minutes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remove the lid, with a spatula flip the muffins, cover and cook an additional 12 minutes.&nbsp; Once the 12 minutes is up remove the muffins to a wire rack to cool.&nbsp; Continue with the remaining muffins.&nbsp; <i>**there may be a little moisture in the pan from the steam that builds up, it's fine.&nbsp; it will not affect the muffins.**</i></div><div><i></i><br /></div><div>Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before eating.&nbsp; If you cut them open too soon they may be a bit doughy.&nbsp; (not a bad thing....)</div><div><br /></div><div>To store, once cool place in a Ziploc bag or covered container and leave on the counter for up to 5 days or freeze in a freezer safe bag or container for up to a month.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6P6TbnlJFg/XnuxRpp12sI/AAAAAAAAURY/thA0vLuFA502tguazz18h3d1BTZYxz00wCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L6P6TbnlJFg/XnuxRpp12sI/AAAAAAAAURY/thA0vLuFA502tguazz18h3d1BTZYxz00wCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins4.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the dough is a little shaggy once mixed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBtixdkYYx4/XnuxP58FUnI/AAAAAAAAURY/iTmgtfC5CncudgnQcHnOSCaghfdSPagGQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBtixdkYYx4/XnuxP58FUnI/AAAAAAAAURY/iTmgtfC5CncudgnQcHnOSCaghfdSPagGQCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">create an 11-inch long log from the dough</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlP6v6pp-Mo/XnuxQh8-vdI/AAAAAAAAURg/LgbGnHXxT_0W-CkbanyEm-0qz-77xv9pACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlP6v6pp-Mo/XnuxQh8-vdI/AAAAAAAAURg/LgbGnHXxT_0W-CkbanyEm-0qz-77xv9pACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">slice the dough into 8 pieces and gently roll each piece into a ball, flatten slightly</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_iH9virVq0/XnuxRIKVMbI/AAAAAAAAURg/-4Q7hJb5ZaMlH6ShT3zVbnGK_oIS16bDgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_iH9virVq0/XnuxRIKVMbI/AAAAAAAAURg/-4Q7hJb5ZaMlH6ShT3zVbnGK_oIS16bDgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoC_Zdg6Zflqapct6aVc4Nok3I9joB9Ir17LGDQvS78_NYEe3Qox3qB7FRjlaAiY38jMVFRSrFdXsyzL-mNaNnP0yAUsvKrJOdFl5bXtIQnrMg_9gxzCbsoCaItkOg_tMZA2U-95saIDnoipi34Hs3p39S8sZPAmiBwSqO5gcWwCsu32AsuLNArH_l9UrKn9kLfJVCfCEu5-JfsGnxmTRlWDSJ3qZrl6bXMgC1hXqtrqnuzbiCP3cTpfhiFRgAnh-vT4jWZon1UAXc7x8XFwSHkHgutzMAl4AtRyhZ8xk1QhnTH8ka4f9wCi3VOa1H1jmE4x1Ltnb2Titack8YL721C_XnZXe_JoX-3LIPBF2WRkSkunuHfGmNwnMPqkPjjSMfo5duMZArRB1o_Xjom0ZumaRNZfyc3VFnSCB9dQgiHmO69M-CCnChV_yrVoDsyGTxaE12ESrHp7lCUoRdS7115uDrmn7pH-8LmD36eR5m9wAwEI20gDbPpI-6UoOYSbaTG0gcG65QveAAfFOg7MBbQI-jgxUIRR91SxiDKH8SMid2cCZ6MAawo8yYfj9RTLzDjJfQ4AF8TYjU6pjknEkfkzEg6gSwG9IBww2uXu8wU/s1600/2-ingredient-english-muffins3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flip the muffins after 12 minutes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-23918885913936715582020-03-25T08:33:00.001-04:002020-04-08T08:53:50.974-04:00How We Ditched Living In The City, Moved To The Country, Quit Our Jobs, And Began Homesteading Full Time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp1amJxZi38/XnplwdvQLkI/AAAAAAAAUP8/9zRfXeEE9gwj-uJiyLbmfIKROhGFogtZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="891" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xp1amJxZi38/XnplwdvQLkI/AAAAAAAAUP8/9zRfXeEE9gwj-uJiyLbmfIKROhGFogtZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit11.jpg" /></a></div><br />We feel so lucky to be able to say we are truly living our dream life.&nbsp; Honestly, we really didn't think we'd be able to achieve this at all.&nbsp; We were a typical middle class couple, working to pay the bills.&nbsp; Then we had this dream but we thought it would remain a dream because we weren't sure how we'd be able to financially achieve it.<br /><br />And then, 12 years ago, we started on the path.&nbsp; And two years ago we did it!<br /><br />In light of the recent pandemic, I've received a lot of emails asking about our story and how we simplified and, eventually, began living and working full-time on our small homestead.&nbsp; So I'm writing this post in response to all of the questions, hoping to answer them collectively here.&nbsp; This isn't a how-to and certainly isn't the ideal way of achieving a dream life, but it's our story.&nbsp; My wish is that it can give someone hope that regardless of their current situation they just might be able to achieve the life they dream of. <br /><br />It's a long one my friends, so grab a cup of coffee or tea!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mOdibDiHYco/XnpjOvi5lBI/AAAAAAAAUPo/EKyH_duWRXUJK-InNgknImUW2-LhH8bOgCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mOdibDiHYco/XnpjOvi5lBI/AAAAAAAAUPo/EKyH_duWRXUJK-InNgknImUW2-LhH8bOgCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Dream Begins</b></span><br />I spent my teens and twenties concentrating on making money to live a lifestyle I read about in magazines.&nbsp; Although I was never able to actually achieve the high income it would have taken to have reached my materialistic dream, I sure gave it a try.&nbsp; We had a lot of stuff, we did a lot of things, and we spent a lot of money.<br /><br />By the time I was in my early-thirties I realized that I really didn't like working for others.&nbsp; I was also starting to feel overwhelmed by the "stuff" and struggling to keep up with the trends.&nbsp; Keeping our home and my wardrobe up-to-date, keeping up with our collections, eating out on average 3 days a week, and buying a LOT of expensive coffee shop drinks was getting to be too much.&nbsp; As Dave Ramsey says, I was buying a lot of expensive things to impress people I really didn't care about. <br /><br />It was so true!<br /><br />But this was <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/02/9-small-steps-toward-minimalism-from.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">the lifestyle I'd grown up in</span></b></a> so I had no idea what else to do.&nbsp; Then one day I walked into the local bookstore to purchase a few magazines to take on vacation.&nbsp; We were headed to the beach and I wanted a few things to read.&nbsp; I have no idea how, but I stumbled across a Countryside magazine.&nbsp; I browsed through it.&nbsp; It was in no way like a traditional magazine and certainly not what I had been searching for.&nbsp; No glossy photos, no perfectly organized homes or trendy clothes.&nbsp; But as I browsed through it, I thought it looked interesting.&nbsp; For a period of my childhood my parents had a small hobby farm and it kind of brought back memories of that.&nbsp; As I walked toward the cash register I saw on an endcap a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0967206790?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">"Simplicity Lessons" by Linda Breen Pierce</span></b></a> (<i>affiliate link</i>).&nbsp; I flipped through that and found it intriguing so I purchased that as well.<br /><br />Once we had made our way to our B&amp;B in Rhode Island, we dropped off our stuff, I grabbed the Simplicity Lessons book, and we headed to the beach.&nbsp; As I read the book I couldn't get enough.&nbsp; Honestly, it just spoke to my heart.&nbsp; I savored every single word and I didn't want to stop reading!&nbsp; The thought of living a life of less stuff and more time &amp; memories spoke to me.&nbsp; Owning only what we needed and/or loved, paying off all debts, learning to need and want less and, therefore, not needing as much income I thought was a brilliant revelation.&nbsp; A long story short, I felt so excited by both the book and magazine that was all I could think about.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q5wbw9FfZ4/XnpmMtjoljI/AAAAAAAAUQM/UQrQF7IG3uoM__R54KkJgxPYyvYPXmK-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cobble-hill-farm-about.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Q5wbw9FfZ4/XnpmMtjoljI/AAAAAAAAUQM/UQrQF7IG3uoM__R54KkJgxPYyvYPXmK-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cobble-hill-farm-about.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Starting To Implement The Dream</b></span><br />My husband and I moved to upstate NY once he retired from the military.&nbsp; We'd never lived in this area, didn't have any family or friends here, but wanted to give it a try.&nbsp; So, we rented a condo in a fairly big town in the outskirts of Albany.&nbsp; We both found jobs and settled in.&nbsp; We really liked our condo - we liked our neighbors, it was near where we both worked, and it was in a convenient location, close to shopping of all kinds.<br /><br />A couple of years into living in the condo is when I made the discovery of <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/01/what-is-simple-living-how-to-guide-for.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">the voluntary simplicity movement</span></b></a> as well as homesteading on that beach in Rhode Island.&nbsp; Upon our return home I began sharing what I'd learned about both of these lifestyles with my husband and it (thankfully) peaked his interest as well.&nbsp; We were inundated with what felt like a TON of stuff.&nbsp; I had collections, he had collections, I had a lot of shoes, clothes and jewelry, and we had a lot of unnecessary home décor.&nbsp; I was tired of living paycheck to paycheck, tired of our money seemingly disappearing, and starting to lose interest in buying the clothing, jewelry and home décor that would impress the people I surrounded myself with.&nbsp; I was simply tired of my focus being on things.&nbsp; And although we enjoyed our closest neighbors, we were craving distance from others and an increase in privacy.<br /><br />The first thing we did was stop shopping and start to <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/04/12-ways-that-ive-simplified-my-life.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">simplify</span></b></a>.&nbsp; And that began with getting rid of stuff.<br /><br />I can't tell you <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/06/what-simplifying-my-life-has-taught-me.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">how good it felt</span></b></a> when I started seeing less and less stuff in our home.&nbsp; Initially I was a bit panicked but it quickly turned into relief, almost a lightness is the only way I can describe it.&nbsp; I sold a lot online, donated a bunch to local charities, and then, eventually, we sold quite a lot at a garage sale where we priced everything to sell.&nbsp; We didn't want any of it left and we just about achieved that!<br /><br />The next step was getting our debt paid off.&nbsp; I wrote a detailed post about <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/02/how-we-paid-off-our-debt-with-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">how meal planning allowed us to pay off our debt</span></b></a>.&nbsp; We didn't have a lot saved, so we wanted to start putting more into our savings account for our future home rather than toward the outstanding debt which meant that getting it paid off was a priority.<br /><br />We spent that year really starting to pull together the start of our new life.&nbsp; Then, one year later, we received a call from the landlord that he would be selling the condo we were living in and wanted to offer it to us first.&nbsp; We talked about it and decided this was our opportunity to move to the outskirts of the city and buy a small homestead.<br /><br />It was amazing how things were falling in place!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUTCgTEODDM/XnpjPwGqj8I/AAAAAAAAUPc/9p7xmvVt_iwmGjLQjPt3eWgpqQe40giBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUTCgTEODDM/XnpjPwGqj8I/AAAAAAAAUPc/9p7xmvVt_iwmGjLQjPt3eWgpqQe40giBgCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Lessons Learned About Mortgages</b></span><br />I was shocked at the amount we were approved for a mortgage.&nbsp; We were at the lower end of middle class income at the time and I had been looking online for homes I assumed we'd be approved to buy.&nbsp; Initially I was excited about the larger amount - maybe we wouldn't need such a fixer upper after all!&nbsp; And then reality hit....<br /><br />I calculated the monthly payment and was immediately sick to my stomach.&nbsp; We were fairly new to the budgeting concept so I was a bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep us on track every month, ensuring we could pay our mortgage without issue.&nbsp; Then I thought, what if something happened to one of our jobs?&nbsp; What if something large needed replacement at our new home?&nbsp; How would we build up a homestead if money was tight?&nbsp; And then I went back to what our long-term dream was - to eventually pay off the mortgage and live full-time on our homestead.<br /><br />There was no way this was possible if we maxed out what we'd been approved for.<br /><br />So, we went back to the houses in the price range we had thought we would have been approved for, which is what we were most comfortable with.&nbsp; If one of us lost our job we would be ok.&nbsp; It would be tight, but it would be ok.<br /><br />Although we had hoped to purchase a home on a few acres, there just wasn't anything in our price range in the area we'd decided we wanted to move at that time.&nbsp; I should amend that - there wasn't anything that was <i>livable</i> in our price range in the area we'd decided we wanted to move to.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGv6V_KCxuA/XnpjPj-NL2I/AAAAAAAAUP0/I7AdZ7Y9TqcAkFGXWsnrl7XCTn3qjAVPACEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGv6V_KCxuA/XnpjPj-NL2I/AAAAAAAAUP0/I7AdZ7Y9TqcAkFGXWsnrl7XCTn3qjAVPACEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit6.jpg" /></a></div><br />That was our next lesson: find a house that was within our budget that we would feel ok about living in immediately.&nbsp; Here's the thing....my husband was a contractor at that time.&nbsp; He's very talented and can do or figure out how to do just about anything.&nbsp; But a true fixer upper had a few issues:<br /><br />1. <b>Time</b> - we were both working full-time so trying to fix up a home could be tough.<br />2. <b>Desire</b> - honestly, I knew that my husband didn't really want to work on other peoples homes all week then come home and be forced to work on ours.<br />3. <b>Money</b> - although we could possibly get a run down home for a steal, it was going to cost money to fix up.&nbsp; I had the advantage of having a contractor at my side telling me the true costs of what we could see.&nbsp; But there's almost always issues you don't see....<br /><br />So although we initially fell in love with a larger property, the home on it was something we knew we would not want to inhabit for long.&nbsp; We knew ultimately it needed to be torn down and a new home built.&nbsp; Did we want to do that?&nbsp; Were we financially in a position to do that?&nbsp; The answer ended up being no, so we continued looking.&nbsp; Funny enough we were actually driving past the home we would eventually purchase every single time we visited the property we'd originally hoped for.&nbsp; We never even saw it!&nbsp; When we finally gave up on trying to make the original one work, my husband scrolled through the internet listings again and spotted our 140 year old little farmhouse.&nbsp; It was situated on just under an acre which is less than we'd hoped.&nbsp; But other than that it was perfect.<br /><br />What we've found out, however, is it actually fits us and our lifestyle just fine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JytBQfdJYA/XnpjOoQlBoI/AAAAAAAAUP4/gKK1LXsunlIndzYkucv6SGD1nLsaFxTQwCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JytBQfdJYA/XnpjOoQlBoI/AAAAAAAAUP4/gKK1LXsunlIndzYkucv6SGD1nLsaFxTQwCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Why Homesteading?</b></span><br />A lot of people can wrap their heads around the idea of <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/04/12-ways-that-ive-simplified-my-life.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">simplifying</span></b></a>.&nbsp; They think we're crazy, but they can understand it somewhat.&nbsp; However they cannot typically understand our <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/01/ways-to-begin-homesteading-where-you-are.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">desire to homestead</span></b></a>.&nbsp; So the most often question we received initially from friends and co-workers was "why homesteading?"<br /><br />Here is the best answer I was able to give:<br />- Because while we will never be fully self-sufficient, we would like to be somewhat self-sufficient.<br />- I enjoy trying to grow what we eat.<br />- It contributes to a simple lifestyle.<br />- It will keep us outside and active as we age.<br /><br />The first thing we did when we moved into our little old farmhouse was plant a garden.&nbsp; Actually, that's wrong.&nbsp; The very first thing we did, after cleaning, was paint.&nbsp; Then replace the refrigerator as soon as I realized it wasn't getting cold enough to keep the food cold.&nbsp; THEN we planted.&nbsp; And immediately after planting we drove to Connecticut and purchased a flock of chickens.&nbsp; Why Connecticut?&nbsp; Because we wanted healthy adult chickens and as we tried to figure out how we were going to ensure that's what we were getting, we came across information about UCONN selling egg layers.&nbsp; And so our chicken keeping days began.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQVVGFRg0Ns/XnpmVN6nHDI/AAAAAAAAUQQ/mSCOUakQbsEYzrodOyiS4cImMJY9iqruwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQVVGFRg0Ns/XnpmVN6nHDI/AAAAAAAAUQQ/mSCOUakQbsEYzrodOyiS4cImMJY9iqruwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit2.jpg" /></a></div><br />We continued to work full-time while we slowly immersed <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/06/a-beginners-guide-to-homesteading-in.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">ourselves into homesteading</span></b></a>.&nbsp; I set a goal that I wanted to make everything that I could make from scratch at least once.&nbsp; Then, we would evaluate whether or not we preferred the homemade version to the store bought version, whether or not it was feasible to fit making it into our life, and whether it was cost effective.<br /><br />I made bread, crackers, butter, yogurt, cheese, soap, mayonnaise, lip balm, dish soap, and mustard, to name a few.&nbsp; I was constantly amazed that all of this could be made right in my kitchen.<br /><br />Next, I learned about <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2014/02/homestead-where-you-are-series-preserve.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">food preservation</span></b></a>.&nbsp; I wanted to learn to can, freeze and dehydrate some of the items from our garden as well as those we were purchasing at the farmer's market.&nbsp; If you're fearful about trying this, let me tell you, it's not nearly as hard as you may think.&nbsp; You make mistakes and learn from them such as my first time canning. I was feeling like I was really getting the hang of it one hot afternoon and just shy of patting myself on the back when my husband walked in the kitchen and broke out in laughter.&nbsp; I looked at him while I was pulling jars out of their water bath and asked what was so funny.&nbsp; He walked over to me and pointed to the jar lifter.&nbsp; "You're using the wrong side" he said, still laughing.&nbsp; "Huh", was my response.&nbsp; "Well this end works pretty good!" I said and kept on going.&nbsp; Of course, I did start using them the correct way.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9n8TjSckUpw/XnpjPGy-hrI/AAAAAAAAUPs/DvlxRKXZHJsxZtXvIbCJS-aAtZ1nqrgDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9n8TjSckUpw/XnpjPGy-hrI/AAAAAAAAUPs/DvlxRKXZHJsxZtXvIbCJS-aAtZ1nqrgDQCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="664" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9n8TjSckUpw/XnpjPGy-hrI/AAAAAAAAUPs/DvlxRKXZHJsxZtXvIbCJS-aAtZ1nqrgDQCEwYBhgL/s400/how-we-quit4.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br /><br />We began <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2014/10/raising-chickens-for-meat-how-they.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">raising chickens for meat</span></b></a> in addition to <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2012/06/so-you-want-to-raise-chickens.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">chickens for eggs</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Producing meat for ourselves from our little parcel of land was something we hadn't thought would be a possibility.&nbsp; We were shocked that it was easier than we'd thought it would be and thrilled with the results.<br /><br />We also continued to work on trying to adopt <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/03/23-frugal-tips-to-try-this-year.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">frugal habits</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Reusing where we could.&nbsp; Saving odds and ends when it made sense in case they could serve a purpose later.&nbsp; Making do and trying to not default to running to the store as we always had up to that point.<br /><br />Every skill we learned and every new piece we added made us appreciate this lifestyle even more and long for the day we could leave the rat race.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bevLDNf06ek/XnpjQutkOTI/AAAAAAAAUP0/sNtt8oGbrIEPDooZp7g707DCAmIqoz_gwCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bevLDNf06ek/XnpjQutkOTI/AAAAAAAAUP0/sNtt8oGbrIEPDooZp7g707DCAmIqoz_gwCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit9.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Quitting Our Jobs</b></span><br />I really did not like working for someone else.&nbsp; It was becoming more and more difficult for me.&nbsp; I hated the politics, I hated the game playing, and I hated pretending every single day that it was all ok.&nbsp; My husband was getting pretty burned out as well, but we just weren't sure how in the world we would ever make the transition.<br /><br />I was 42 and Jay 48 and we were in no way ready financially to retire early.&nbsp; We were out of debt except for our mortgage but we were still living on too much of our income and not saving as much as we should.&nbsp; In hindsight, of course, I really wish we'd buckled down on this.&nbsp; But we didn't.&nbsp; We tossed around ideas including trying to make and sell the soap we'd been carefully formulating since anyone who tried it loved it.&nbsp; We quickly discounted this idea because there are so many people making soap, we just didn't see how that was going to be our way of making a living.<br /><br />And then I began having issues at work.&nbsp; I was struggling, ethically, with so much that was happening at the top of the organization.&nbsp; I did not want to be there and I did not agree with what was going on.&nbsp; One day I reached my breaking point, it was a Friday.&nbsp; Jay and I discussed it over the weekend and we both decided that I needed to leave.&nbsp; I did not have another job lined up, and leaving without a plan was something I'd never done before, but I knew I couldn't continue.&nbsp; This was one of a handful of times I was incredibly grateful we had a smaller mortgage payment, one that could be paid on a single income.&nbsp; So we hoped that if I jumped a net would appear. <br /><br />I jumped and had no idea what to do next.&nbsp; I started looking for another job but we had decided, at the encouragement of others, that I would also start making soap, lotion, herbal salves and lip balm to sell.&nbsp; Our friends insisted that our products were different and they really believed others would love them too.&nbsp; We knew it likely wouldn't lead to an actual income and that I still needed to return to work, but we figured that maybe by the time we wanted to retire, it would become a business to provide us a little income. <br /><br />Oh how we had no idea!<br /><br />So, here we were with one and a half incomes.&nbsp; My husband had been cut to part-time for half of the year for the previous few years and full-time the other half of the year plus he receives a moderate military retirement pension.&nbsp; So that's what we lived on.&nbsp; We had decided that we would not go into any amount of debt to start the soap business, so we needed to build it slowly with our finances.&nbsp; I would continue growing what I could for vegetables, preserving the excess, and work on tight budgeting for the remainder of our food costs and other living expenses.&nbsp; The half of the year that he was part-time was pretty tough, but we somehow figured it out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ga6LRbT_Eu0/XnpjPRH8WSI/AAAAAAAAUPw/zBukhmu1BLAV5xbrFd7ASUpQ5lv4jJHJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ga6LRbT_Eu0/XnpjPRH8WSI/AAAAAAAAUPw/zBukhmu1BLAV5xbrFd7ASUpQ5lv4jJHJQCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit5.jpg" /></a></div><br />About 7 months later I found a full-time entry level position and returned to work.&nbsp; I had been a director at my previous position but it was for a not-for-profit that didn't pay well so, sadly, my entry level position at a for-profit company wasn't much lower than what I'd previously made.&nbsp; I had also signed up for a few craft shows and we had just begun selling our products at a local farmer's market.<br /><br />In one year our business began taking off.&nbsp; I had received a promotion at work which came with more responsibility and more required hours and we were spending our evenings making and packaging products and our weekends selling it.&nbsp; That was the first time we realized that we just might be able to work from our homestead full-time.&nbsp; To say we were shocked is an understatement.<br /><br />One year later (two years after we started the business), our business was booming and we were completely and utterly exhausted.&nbsp; We worked so many hours that we were actually just wasting money.&nbsp; I was traveling for work a lot, we were traveling on the weekends for craft shows, Jay spent all week making and packaging products and traveling to a few shows alone, we were eating out too much, I wasn't properly budgeting our grocery spending (or any other spending) because I had no time or energy, I stopped gardening, and we were not fixing or making do with anything on the homestead.&nbsp; We were paying to have it fixed or buying new.&nbsp; Things were just spiraling out of control.&nbsp; On a positive note, this was also the year that we stopped personally financing the business and it began financing itself. <br /><br />It was a Saturday in July.&nbsp; We had returned home from a craft show and were unloading our displays so I could spend the evening preparing them for the farmer's market the next day.&nbsp; Jay was coming in with a load and I had just sat down on a barstool at the kitchen island, exhausted and hot from the summer heat and humidity.&nbsp; He walked in and I said "I can't do it anymore."&nbsp; He looked at me and quietly admitted "I know, I can't either".&nbsp; I said "honestly, at this point I don't care if we stop the soap business altogether and just keep working our jobs or if one of us quits working and runs the soap business full-time.&nbsp; We just need to do something."&nbsp; Jay continued walking through the kitchen heading toward the soap room when I heard a faint "I'm in".&nbsp; Huh?&nbsp; I said to myself.&nbsp; What does "I'm in mean?" I thought.<br /><br />I followed behind him and asked what in the world that meant.&nbsp; "I'm in" he repeated.&nbsp; I said "I know, I heard you but I don't know what that means".&nbsp; He told me that he is ready to leave his career and run the soap business full-time.&nbsp; This was a huge deal because he's the one that stresses the most regarding finances and is fearful of change.&nbsp; Giving up the comfort of a paycheck was a huge step for him and I knew this.&nbsp; So we discussed it in detail, ensuring he truly was ok with the decision.&nbsp; We ended up deciding that, even though he'd never made a product himself at that point, it made the most sense because my job was full-time year-round and his wasn't.&nbsp; So, he gave 2 months notice and in September of that year began his new role as President of <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Cobble Hill Farm Soap</span></b></a>.<br /><br />We were scared, elated, and had no idea what to expect. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yG-kxifpUns/XnplwRM0gNI/AAAAAAAAUQA/ecgbatGDzMo_ebNhl3CFr5iqfduteMHhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yG-kxifpUns/XnplwRM0gNI/AAAAAAAAUQA/ecgbatGDzMo_ebNhl3CFr5iqfduteMHhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit10.jpg" /></a></div><br />We did make a few very good decisions which I'm grateful for. <br />- We started the business while we worked full-time. <br />- We paid cash for everything. <br />- We had not taken any income from the business for the first 2 years.<br /><br />These decisions helped in a multitude of ways:<br /><br />1. There is a LOT of overhead in a soap and skincare business.&nbsp; Making the products means buying a surplus of ingredients, containers and other packaging, and storing a lot of products made ahead of time.&nbsp; (soap, for example, is a 1-2 month process which means we need a lot of product made ahead of the time we actually need it = money just sitting on the shelves).<br /><br />2. Building the business slowly meant that although we had to initially purchase ingredients and packaging in smaller quantities, resulting in spending more money per item (because prices drop the larger the quantity you purchase), it meant we could build a business with cash on a limited income.&nbsp; If we had taken on debt we would have paid more in interest and had to play the catch-up game with trying to pay it off.<br /><br />3. Not taking an income resulted in all of the profits being put back into the business.&nbsp; Little-by-little we could afford to attend craft shows that were bigger (and cost more), create nicer marketing materials, expand our product line, and eventually build an online store (moving from etsy to an actual <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">online store</span></b></a>).<br /><br /><br />My work life became increasingly more difficult.&nbsp; The games, the dysfunctional family owners, a passive-aggressive leadership group, and the ridiculous hours.&nbsp; It was all too much.&nbsp; We were still traveling to craft shows and the farmer's markets on weekends (and Jay did 2 weekday markets).&nbsp; We lived off of my income (plus his pension) and reinvested the money the business made back into the business.&nbsp; Jay joked he'd never worked so hard for a job that paid absolutely nothing. <br /><br />Not taking an income allowed us to grow larger without debt and in a shorter period of time.&nbsp; Two years after Jay left his career to work for our business, in a blaze of burnout, I quit my job and finally joined him.&nbsp; That was truly the scariest yet most joyful time of our lives.&nbsp; We spent one year debating whether or not we could do it.&nbsp; Every time I was about to give my notice one of us would get cold feet.&nbsp; The only regret I have is that I wish I'd left a year earlier as we'd originally planned so I wasn't so burned out and suffering health issues.&nbsp; I'm glad, however, that I finally made the jump. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rpw6drnMa4/XnpjQJCTikI/AAAAAAAAUP0/bbme-OVVFggOPlAv2hj22sdLq5jNkUqugCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rpw6drnMa4/XnpjQJCTikI/AAAAAAAAUP0/bbme-OVVFggOPlAv2hj22sdLq5jNkUqugCEwYBhgL/s1600/how-we-quit8.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Living A Life We Love</b></span><br />The first few months of working for ourselves we spent determining what each of our roles and responsibilities was and worked on setting up schedules and budgets. This was imperative as we would now be spending every single hour of every single day together.&nbsp; Now that we would need to take an income from our business we had to figure out that balance as well.&nbsp; We also had to make decisions about what to do with our business.&nbsp; Do we grow it?&nbsp; Do we leave it where it is? <br /><br />Ultimately, we made the decision based on how we want to live the rest of our lives and that meant keeping it the size that it is.&nbsp; We have no desire to ever have employees or debt or work the crazy hours we worked before.&nbsp; We don't want to manage people, instead we want to make and sell our products.<br /><br />We spent our first year of living off of our business figuring out the finances.&nbsp; We make the most in the months of June through August and mid-October through Christmas.&nbsp; The remainder of the year we make half, or less, than what we make during those months.&nbsp; So we had to budget with that in mind, trying to factor in what we would need during the slower months.&nbsp; Not only did we need money to live on but the business needed money for ingredients, packaging, craft show fees, etc.<br /><br />We are back to lower end middle-class income but we have a much different view on it.&nbsp; This time around we feel like we have everything we need.&nbsp; We understand budgeting, have simplified our lives even more, have embraced frugality, make a lot from scratch, grow a large portion of our own food, preserve huge amounts for good winter eating, and have adopted and appreciate living a slower paced life.<br /><br />I will also note that I recognize that we do have a couple of advantages that many don't have - my husband's military pension and healthcare.&nbsp; He worked hard to achieve these and we are both very grateful to have them.&nbsp; When we speak with others trying to make it on their homestead full-time it's usually healthcare costs that poses the problem.&nbsp; We appreciate that this wasn't a concern for us.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBg12iKRuUg/XnpqMwHqQJI/AAAAAAAAUQc/6TH7zBCuOdE0RtqUz8hJzDhex1wC9lqywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBg12iKRuUg/XnpqMwHqQJI/AAAAAAAAUQc/6TH7zBCuOdE0RtqUz8hJzDhex1wC9lqywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/how-we-quit12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBg12iKRuUg/XnpqMwHqQJI/AAAAAAAAUQc/6TH7zBCuOdE0RtqUz8hJzDhex1wC9lqywCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/how-we-quit12.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />Of course like everything, there are pros and cons to working for yourself.&nbsp; In our minds, however, the pros far outweigh the cons.&nbsp; The main cons being - we are fully responsible for our income; there is no paid time off (if we don't work, we don't get paid); and a higher percentage of our earnings go toward taxes.<br /><br />Some of the pros include:<br />- We work for ourselves.&nbsp; Honestly, that alone is such a HUGE pro for us.<br />- The stress has pretty much melted out of my life.&nbsp; Yes, we have times that can be stressful, however, I am so much more relaxed and have returned to the practice of having faith that it will work out.&nbsp; (Jay thinks I should be more stressed about our finances but I'm just not - I feel like we will be ok)<br />- Working for ourselves allowed us to take care of both dogs when they were very sick, including caring for Emerson in his last few months. <br />- It allowed me to spend almost every day with my mother and be her full-time caretaker during her last few months of life. <br />- It allows us to spend time together that we wouldn't get otherwise.<br />- If we don't enjoy a craft show or farmer's market and any drama that may come with it we can replace it with another or just deal with it - it's only one day per week (farmer's market) or one day per year (craft show).<br />- We have the time to grow and/or raise our own food.<br />- If we want time off we just take it.<br />- Everything we work for every single day benefits us and our lives.<br />- We spend our days on our homestead which makes us incredibly happy.<br /><br />At the risk of sounding too "woo woo" I can say that I believe a few things have really helped us along the path:<br />- Having a clear idea of what we wanted and thinking about it often.&nbsp; Not thoughts of what we didn't want - we did not focus on that, instead, focused on what we <i>wanted</i>.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/07/change-your-life-in-2018-july-challenge.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Thoughts are incredibly powerful.</span></b></a>&nbsp; I've learned this lesson over and over.<br />- <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/10/change-your-life-in-2018-october.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Finding gratitude in every single situation.</span></b></a>&nbsp; Good or bad.&nbsp; It's hard and something that doesn't always come natural to me, I will definitely admit that, but gratitude is a game changer.<br />- Having faith.<br /><br />Those combined with working hard toward our goals, I believe, were keys for us.<br /><br /><br />We still have the one debt - our mortgage.&nbsp; We are working to get that paid off early making us fully debt free.&nbsp; We can't wait!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-68240981856589535742020-03-19T14:39:00.001-04:002020-03-19T14:39:13.883-04:00Cinnamon Swirl Bread (+ Cinnamon Rolls)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuKw2GEROt0/XnOwLLo181I/AAAAAAAAUOY/zEQIGeKRY8E1PcwyNMzvNM41cu0OkiyDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DuKw2GEROt0/XnOwLLo181I/AAAAAAAAUOY/zEQIGeKRY8E1PcwyNMzvNM41cu0OkiyDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br />This recipe is just downright delicious.&nbsp; Yes, it's white flour (I have not tried it with any other flour), and yes it includes sugar, but sometimes you just need to throw caution to the wind and splurge and enjoy. <br /><br />And we did just that this week.<br /><br />I had forgotten all about this recipe.&nbsp; In fact, I think I haven't made it in 3 or 4 years.&nbsp; And then Saturday night, for some reason, I thought - "that cinnamon swirl bread would taste really good right now".&nbsp; I made it the very next day (and we each had a slice as soon as it cooled) along with a batch of cinnamon rolls.&nbsp; It was just as yummy as I'd remembered.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZY4rS-sQdY/XnOyBmo8pwI/AAAAAAAAUOg/Nwy5BAdZTNUcvUDVj7AY-ZZZqJZnMXjAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZY4rS-sQdY/XnOyBmo8pwI/AAAAAAAAUOg/Nwy5BAdZTNUcvUDVj7AY-ZZZqJZnMXjAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br />I make quite a bit of our food from scratch but I'm finding that I'm currently making even more, in these difficult days of COVID 19.&nbsp; We have stocked our cupboards, fridge and freezer as much as possible but the reality is, the grocery stores are struggling to keep up with demand.&nbsp; Because of this, as we all try to limit our exposure to others we're figuring out how to make do with what we have.&nbsp; Tortilla shells, pasta, English muffins, etc. that I would normally have defaulted to purchasing if I was short on time I am now defaulting to making from scratch.&nbsp; Thankfully our pantry was well stocked with ingredients.<br /><br />I've added this recipe to the lineup to make over the next couple of months.<br /><br />While the recipe makes 3 loaves of bread, one of the things I do sometimes is make 2 loaves plus one batch of cinnamon rolls.&nbsp; It's a wonderful treat.&nbsp; You can serve them as is or add a decadent (and easy) cream cheese glaze.&nbsp; The directions and glaze recipe are all listed below.<br /><br />When I made this on Sunday I used non-dairy butter and milk and it worked just fine.&nbsp; So, use whichever you have on hand.&nbsp; Honestly, you can make just about any bread recipe into cinnamon swirl bread by adding the filling and rolling it up, however, this bread recipe not only holds the filling well, but is light and perfect.&nbsp; It slices and toasts well too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V20moiQ_hJ4/XnO7-5jXzBI/AAAAAAAAUOs/bk38WzYDmZoFUBo-YMvXyuoH_pqMjvuOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cinnamon-swirl-bread1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V20moiQ_hJ4/XnO7-5jXzBI/AAAAAAAAUOs/bk38WzYDmZoFUBo-YMvXyuoH_pqMjvuOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cinnamon-swirl-bread1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>Cinnamon Swirl Bread</b></span><br /><b>Dough:</b><br />2 packages instant yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)<br />2 cups warm water, 100-110 degrees fahrenheit<br />4 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided<br />2 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)<br />5 tablespoons butter (dairy or non-dairy), softened<br />4 teaspoons salt<br />8-10 cups bread flour<br /><br /><b>Filling:</b><br />3 tablespoons butter (dairy or non-dairy), softened and divided<br />1/2 cups granulated sugar<br />1/2 cups light brown sugar<br />1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon<br /><br /><b>Cream Cheese Glaze (for cinnamon rolls if you are making):</b><br />3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened (dairy or non-dairy)<br />1 1/2 cups powdered/confectioners sugar<br />3 tablespoons milk (dairy or non-dairy)<br />1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br /><br />In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar over the warm water.&nbsp; Let sit for 10 minutes.<br /><br />Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium-low heat warm the milk, 5 tablespoons of butter, and remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and milk mixture comes to between 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; If the milk mixture gets warmer than this, allow to cool before proceeding.<br /><br />Add milk mixture to the yeast mixture along with 5 cups of the bread flour.&nbsp; Mix with a stand mixer or by hand.&nbsp; Add 2 cups more bread flour and continue to mix.&nbsp; Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough is no longer sticky and pulls away from the sides of the bowl as it mixes.&nbsp; Knead a total of 5-8 minutes, until smooth and satiny.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpdhRjJDVpM/XnO7-0c8vKI/AAAAAAAAUOo/kNq6ed9m6eA8s26cm5knou3bFj9H_FiSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cinnamon-swirl-bread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpdhRjJDVpM/XnO7-0c8vKI/AAAAAAAAUOo/kNq6ed9m6eA8s26cm5knou3bFj9H_FiSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cinnamon-swirl-bread2.jpg" /></a></div><br />Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, covered with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and set in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.<br /><br />Meanwhile, mix together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon of the filling ingredients, and set aside.<br /><br />Once the dough has doubled in size, punch down and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled again, 30-45 minutes.&nbsp; Grease 3 standard bread pans (or 2 bread pans and a 9-inch cake pan for cinnamon rolls).&nbsp; Set aside.<br /><br />Once the dough is doubled, remove the dough from the bowl and divide into 3 pieces.&nbsp; Working with one at a time, roll it out into an 8x10 inch rectangle, spread 1 tablespoon butter over it, and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the filling mixture.&nbsp; Roll up tight, starting at the short end for the bread or the long end for cinnamon rolls.&nbsp; Pinch the seam and place in the pan seam side down.&nbsp; For cinnamon rolls, cut the length of the dough into about 2 inch pieces and place, filling side down into the prepared pan.<br /><br />Cover loosely with a clean towel or plastic wrap sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and let rise in a warm place 30-45 minutes, or until doubled again. <br /><br />Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; Bake cinnamon rolls for 20-28 minutes and loaves for 45 minutes.<br /><br />While they are baking, if you are using the cream cheese glaze for the cinnamon rolls, mix together all ingredients in a medium size bowl until smooth.&nbsp; Set aside until rolls are removed, then, with a rubber spatula, spread onto hot rolls.&nbsp; Allow to cool to room temperature.<br /><br />Remove the bread from the loaf pans about 10 minutes after removing from the oven.&nbsp; Allow to completely cool on a wire rack.</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-10185862932531757672020-03-15T18:12:00.000-04:002020-03-16T08:41:03.245-04:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gn0EV0UApo/Xm6klmm5NrI/AAAAAAAAUN8/5yR1l1EJxf80-Hr0kaJ8QtFURf0Abm5mACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gn0EV0UApo/Xm6klmm5NrI/AAAAAAAAUN8/5yR1l1EJxf80-Hr0kaJ8QtFURf0Abm5mACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-kitchen.jpg" /></a></div><br />Oh my how things have changed in the past month..... We are hunkered down at home, having fun with the animals and taking the opportunity to get a few things done at the house that we didn't think we had time to do.&nbsp; Might as well make the most of it, right? <br /><br />We are not currently selling at our farmer's market.&nbsp; Although the market is still going, for now, we are trying to make the most responsible decision for us and our customers.&nbsp; Since our products are shippable we decided it's really best to limit all of our exposure at this time.&nbsp; I mean honestly, it's just the two of us.&nbsp; No kids, no parents, and no relatives around us at all, so in the end, it is us solely responsible for our farm and our business and because of that we want to try to stay healthy.&nbsp; Our customers are wonderful and have seemed to understand so our online store has been busy the last two days.&nbsp; For that we are incredibly grateful!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ecd_KyCTS6M/Xm6kkEdEnEI/AAAAAAAAUNk/us6KeiYjTA4t0nvEvpJrra8_XD_5BDIZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cleaning-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ecd_KyCTS6M/Xm6kkEdEnEI/AAAAAAAAUNk/us6KeiYjTA4t0nvEvpJrra8_XD_5BDIZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cleaning-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br />Most of the schools around us are closed for the next month and our grocery stores have been hit like what you are seeing on the news.&nbsp; Shelves completely emptied.&nbsp; We did our monthly grocery shopping (plus a bit extra knowing we'd like to limit our exposure) about 2 weeks ago.&nbsp; At that time everything was in stock and we had no issues at all.&nbsp; We didn't feel the need to stockpile a year's worth of toilet paper, instead, about a month and a half's worth of food, animal food, coffee, tea, and toiletries.<br /><br />When I shop monthly rather than weekly we eat the fresh fruit and veggies first and then switch to frozen for the last couple of weeks.&nbsp; If you truly don't want to visit the grocery store for a month it is possible to make it work.&nbsp; Many fresh fruit and veggies last a month (root vegetables, apples, oranges, etc.) and you can freeze meat, milk and butter.&nbsp; If you don't make homemade bread you can freeze bread too.&nbsp; As far as meals go, you can either create a full month meal plan or just wing it with what you have in your stocked pantry, fridge and freezer.&nbsp; It's really a matter of buying what your family eats regularly. <br /><br />As long as you do that,&nbsp; you are good to go.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IegeoxL71Kg/Xm6kkcVLjiI/AAAAAAAAUNs/W3-iv_XnnsY9y1fH7Qf1DMQHaJICfCRwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IegeoxL71Kg/Xm6kkcVLjiI/AAAAAAAAUNs/W3-iv_XnnsY9y1fH7Qf1DMQHaJICfCRwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-chickens.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Coop Girls</span></i></b> - they are loving the fact that the weather has been decent and the snow is (finally) melting.&nbsp; Eggs are being laid regularly (we are getting about a dozen a day) and they are enjoying patrolling the property.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqMqocwDLPU/Xm6kldBipmI/AAAAAAAAUN4/yI0_DiI2MH0gXAZHP_XPyunLu8vaR0APQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MqMqocwDLPU/Xm6kldBipmI/AAAAAAAAUN4/yI0_DiI2MH0gXAZHP_XPyunLu8vaR0APQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Oliver</span></i></b> - I had a woman ask me at the park yesterday how old he is.&nbsp; We took him for a walk to get him (and us) out of the house and out in the beautiful weather.&nbsp; When I said 10 she was amazed.&nbsp; She said she would have never guessed he's that old based on how he acts - running around like a crazy man and having a blast.&nbsp; I'm so grateful that he really is doing well.&nbsp; He certainly has his moments that scare me but in general, he is thriving.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsyzB1JeADM/Xm6klLfGyJI/AAAAAAAAUN0/f3Sc8uL7QZoDz647s7UH4HP0KWpSzG4gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jackson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="598" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsyzB1JeADM/Xm6klLfGyJI/AAAAAAAAUN0/f3Sc8uL7QZoDz647s7UH4HP0KWpSzG4gQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-farmcat-jackson.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Jackson</span></i></b> - when I walked down the stairs this morning I could see something in the middle of the dining room floor but couldn't make out what it was.&nbsp; It was Jack's toy basket.&nbsp; He had drug it out from where it lives to the middle of the floor and proceeded to almost empty it.&nbsp; He must have been looking for a specific toy and couldn't find it.&nbsp; He does this sometimes.&nbsp; I'm guessing he got bored in the middle of the night. <br /><br />So what I'm telling you is he is the exact same.&nbsp; I don't think he will ever mature....&nbsp; He will forever be a kitten in an adult cat's body.&nbsp; The other night he was pretending someone or something was chasing him.&nbsp; He raced around, crashing into furniture, jumping and carrying on like he'd lost his mind.&nbsp; He is a piece of work.&nbsp; Oliver, Jay and I just watched him and shook our heads.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hu1vpgmQeQ/Xm6kkSeWtfI/AAAAAAAAUNo/OK9aRyM2n_EyuoQpKEU1C-HX6aHdzYGygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hu1vpgmQeQ/Xm6kkSeWtfI/AAAAAAAAUNo/OK9aRyM2n_EyuoQpKEU1C-HX6aHdzYGygCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">What's Cooking</span></i></b> - I'm going to work on creating a new veggie burger recipe this week.&nbsp; I love them and thought it would be fun to do. <br /><br />For dinners I've been enjoying homemade burrito bowls (Mexican rice, beans, and corn salsa) these days.&nbsp; I like making the beans in the instant pot.&nbsp; Quick and easy.&nbsp; I make a huge batch and freeze them.&nbsp; Jay does not enjoy having the same dinner more than once a week so I just make quick and easy things for him.&nbsp; I have a list of recipes he loves and we alternate depending on what protein he's having that day (poultry on Mon, Thurs &amp; Sat; pork on Tues; Beef on Wed &amp; Sun; Seafood on Fri.).&nbsp; He will NOT eat poultry or seafood two days in a row (isn't that funny?) so this makes my life a bit easier, assigning protein to the days.&nbsp; I just look at the list of poultry, pork, seafood, or beef recipes and cook one up.<br /><br />For lunches Jay has been on a pizza made on homemade naan bread kick (I make <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/naan/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">this recipe</span></b></a> from Budget Bytes).&nbsp; We add tomato sauce, cheese, and other toppings then cook it in the air fryer for 8 minutes and voila.&nbsp; A perfect mini pizza!&nbsp; I have been loving quinoa salad (no recipe, just cooked quinoa, chickpeas and whatever veggies I have on hand - fresh and frozen).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSA-ytMRGzU/Xm6mK5_bm1I/AAAAAAAAUOQ/_MK7vAnzPYATXMKZIw8dIJZQc0QfQMrjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xSA-ytMRGzU/Xm6mK5_bm1I/AAAAAAAAUOQ/_MK7vAnzPYATXMKZIw8dIJZQc0QfQMrjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend2-cinnamon-swirl-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br />Breakfasts are usually cereal (Jay has eggs a couple days a week) but I've been craving cinnamon swirl bread toast so I made a batch of that today.&nbsp; I was thinking of it last night and realizing I haven't made it in forever.&nbsp; The recipe makes 3 loaves but I usually make 2 loaves plus a batch of cinnamon rolls.&nbsp; So that's what I did.<br /><br /><br />Hoping you had a wonderful weekend!<br />Thinking of you and hoping you and your family stay safe and healthy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAgnY7R7idA/Xm6kkzBDy_I/AAAAAAAAUNw/DmYVLCYgVI0F0F92LiX0v1kvB_zCEuZowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-entry-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xAgnY7R7idA/Xm6kkzBDy_I/AAAAAAAAUNw/DmYVLCYgVI0F0F92LiX0v1kvB_zCEuZowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-entry-room.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Link Love:</span></i></b><br /><a href="https://www.sallyannmiller.com/pursue-your-passion/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Finding Your Purpose And Pursuing Your Passion</span></b></a> (SallyAnn Miller)<br /><a href="https://www.marcandangel.com/2017/11/05/10-things-to-remember-before-you-take-things-personally/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">10 Things To Remember Before You Take Things Personally</span></b></a> (Marc &amp; Angel)<br /><a href="https://theprudenthomemaker.com/a-well-stocked-pantry/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">A Well-Stocked Pantry</span></b></a> (Prudent Homemaker) - Brandy's list of her extensive stocked pantry.<br /><a href="https://thissimpleday.wordpress.com/2019/07/02/we-are-not-a-zero-waste-family/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">We Are Not A Zero Waste Family</span></b></a> (This Simple Day)<br /><a href="https://www.kristinkimball.com/farm-note" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Farm Notes</span></b></a> - you may know Kristin Kimball from her book "The Dirty Life".&nbsp; She and husband Mark farm in Essex, NY on an amazing farm they built from scratch.&nbsp; We've had the absolute pleasure of <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2011/07/visit-to-essexs-farm-kristin-and-mark.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">visiting</span></b></a> a few times.&nbsp; She writes weekly notes to keep their CSA members in the loop and publishes them to her site.&nbsp; (Kristin Kimball)<br /><br />Some helpful links for the coming weeks:<br />How Sweet Eats <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2020/03/a-few-of-my-favorite-books-of-all-time-and-what-to-read-if-youre-staying-home-right-now/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Favorite Books Of All Time</span></b></a> (perfect if you're spending some unexpected time at home these days)<br /><a href="https://www.theleangreenbean.com/easy-pantry-and-freezer-meals/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Easy Pantry And Freezer Meals</span></b></a> (The Lean Green Blog) - in case you're looking for some ideas<br /><a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/pantry-recipes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">15 Pantry Recipe Ideas For Emergency Preparedness</span></b></a> (Budget Bytes)<br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-68673937658514156522020-03-05T12:03:00.002-05:002020-03-05T12:03:57.993-05:00Starting Your Own Path To Simple Living - Begin Today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90QFKaVTQUE/Xl_2PJhdWiI/AAAAAAAAUM8/WyrX-xZ2ZZU-OOV13-0_1sKQNMmH65V1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/simplify-your-life3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90QFKaVTQUE/Xl_2PJhdWiI/AAAAAAAAUM8/WyrX-xZ2ZZU-OOV13-0_1sKQNMmH65V1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/simplify-your-life3.jpg" /></a></div><br />One of the popular questions I receive goes something like this: "I want out of the rat race but I don't feel like I'm ever going to get there.&nbsp; Where do I even start to achieve a more simple life?"&nbsp; The short answer is - figure out what your simple life looks like and stop buying things that don't move you toward that goal. <br /><br />Oh, if only it was that easy, right? <br /><br />Living a simple life (a.k.a. voluntary simplicity) is a <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/09/the-choice-to-live-simply.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">change of lifestyle</span></b></a> that minimizes the needless consumption of material things and pursuit of wealth for it's own sake.&nbsp; The focus shifts to embracing a scaled-down, slower paced life that focuses on what you truly need and genuinely cherish, be it material things, relationships, work, etc.&nbsp; It is living a life that is intentional, less complicated, and more meaningful.&nbsp; Most of us are on auto pilot, spending our very short time on earth in pursuit of material things even though, if we are truthful with ourselves, our deepest aspirations are actually nonmaterial ones. <br /><br />Simple living isn't about deprivation.&nbsp; Far from it.&nbsp; It's about living with fewer distractions - owning less, wanting less, finding gratitude for the smallest of things, and spending the time you do have enjoying life.&nbsp; It means letting go of anything that interferes with your own high quality of life.&nbsp; There are no rigid rules, it's what feels right for each of us.&nbsp; Simple living is a lifelong journey about being who you really are and living a life in harmony with your values and integrity that is designed by you rather than by society. <br /><br />Does this mean a life of no responsibilities, problems or worries?&nbsp; Absolutely not.&nbsp; It simply means living a life that is fulfilling to you and aligns with your deepest desires.&nbsp; We've all got one shot at this life so it's all about making it the best one you can.<br /><br />Let's look at more of a step-by-step guide to planning your own journey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXMH2y0lppM/Xl_2PK-krcI/AAAAAAAAUNA/68i8-vPKGNwO0-c3iYWaZU3QwyBZbqLBACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXMH2y0lppM/Xl_2PK-krcI/AAAAAAAAUNA/68i8-vPKGNwO0-c3iYWaZU3QwyBZbqLBACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>1. Identify Your Goals</b></span><br />This really is step one because your goals, or vision, for a simple life is what will drive all other things you do (or don't do).&nbsp; All of our vision and, eventually, journeys will be unique to us, even though we may have many commonalities.&nbsp; Because of this, it's imperative that you decide for yourself what your personal vision is.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">a. If you could do anything with your life (money, responsibilities, location, etc. aside), what would it be? &nbsp;</span></b><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; <b><span style="color: #666666;">My personal answer is this:</span></b>&nbsp; We would live on 10+ acres, debt-free, with a small home and plenty of housing for animals.&nbsp; We would take in and care for neglected and abused farm animals.&nbsp; We would grow much of our own produce, make most of our meals and products from scratch, and make a living from our farm.&nbsp; We would work to get more involved in our community, build and embrace a small circle of friends, spend time taking care of ourselves, and learn to live and appreciate a simplified life of less stuff.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">b. Now, taking what your ultimate life would be, break it down to something that seems somewhat manageable</span></b>.&nbsp; What could you aim for, as a lifestyle change for the next 2, 5 or even 8 years?&nbsp; If your ultimate vision doesn't seem possible, what type of vision seems attainable?<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <b><span style="color: #666666;">My personal answer is this:</span></b>&nbsp; We will live on the outskirts of town on 1+ acres, debt-free, with a small home and housing for some animals.&nbsp; We will take in and care for a few neglected and abused farm animals.&nbsp; We will grow much of our own produce, make most of our meals and products from scratch, and make a living from our farm.&nbsp; We will get more involved in our community, build and embrace a small circle of friends, spend time caring for ourselves, and learn to live and appreciate a simplified life of less stuff.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Because it is quite expensive in our area, what seemed more manageable was to aim for less property and starting smaller on our journey.&nbsp; It's also important to understand that your vision and goals should remain fluid.&nbsp; Your circumstances may change and, as you work toward and within your journey, your vision of what you want for a life may also change.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; As an example, we ended up purchasing a small farmhouse on just under 1 acre of land.&nbsp; This is too small of a property to take in abused or neglected farm animals.&nbsp; We originally thought of our home as a stepping stone to our ultimate vision.&nbsp; It's been about 10 years and we've realized that our vision has changed.&nbsp; Everything has remained the same with the exception of taking in farm animals.&nbsp; Although someday we may have the property to take in a few, we've since decided that caring for a lot of animals is not what we would like to do at this point in our life.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WHniaMDYGM/Xl_2PORsY1I/AAAAAAAAUM4/A_ruFZHEn3ULq6Exg0vODR5gTgKhC-mNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--WHniaMDYGM/Xl_2PORsY1I/AAAAAAAAUM4/A_ruFZHEn3ULq6Exg0vODR5gTgKhC-mNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>2. Create Smaller Goals Leading To Your Larger Goal</b></span><br />In order to get you moving toward your goal to a simple life, smaller more manageable goals will make it feel more attainable.<br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">a. Make a list of your smaller goals and keep them where you can see them daily.</span></b><br />&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <b><span style="color: #666666;">Some Of </span><span style="color: #666666;">Our goals were:</span></b><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Sell, give away, toss, or donate all of the items we own that we don't need or love.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Pay off all credit card, college, and auto debt.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Stop shopping mindlessly and try to make do with what we have.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Start a budget and begin paying cash for what we purchase.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Cut spending by $500.00/month and put that money into savings.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Purchase a property in the country.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Pay extra on the mortgage to pay it off early.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Start a farm-based business.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Make everything from scratch at least once.&nbsp; Continue making from scratch if it seems reasonable and if the homemade product is superior to what is purchased.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Support local small businesses and farmers.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Plant a garden and learn to grow much of our own food.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Learn to preserve food.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Leave the rat race and work for ourselves.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Adopt animals.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; - Get back to writing.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Find time for art projects.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Spend time regularly biking, hiking, golfing, and/or walking together.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />We haven't yet achieved all of these goals, and they weren't in any particular order, but smaller (flexible) goals kept us focused on our larger goal and kept us both working toward the same thing.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;">b. Every choice you make, going forward, should take your goals into consideration before you make them.</span></b> <br />i.e. if you say "let's go to dinner Friday night" and your budget is tight, think about your goals.&nbsp; Does spending money on dinner out, when you are trying to save for a lifestyle change, benefit your future life?&nbsp; Does it hurt it?&nbsp; If it doesn't benefit it and does hurt it, start making choices that instead support your goals.&nbsp; Save the money, make dinner from scratch, and focus on working toward your new lifestyle.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>3. Start Budgeting</b></span><br />No, it's not necessarily the most enjoyable step in the process, however, it does get more and more enjoyable the closer you get to reaching your goals.&nbsp; Because finances are such a huge part of our lives and the primary factor in making decisions for our lives, it is imperative that if you don't currently budget you begin.&nbsp; Today.&nbsp; Budgeting is the only way to truly begin actively working toward your financial goals.&nbsp; I can tell you this from first-hand experience.&nbsp; I tried everything I could to work around making and following a budget but it wasn't until I finally gave in to the process that we started making headway.&nbsp; Trust me - start a budget.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlXf_cm4L-k/Xl_2P9WmTMI/AAAAAAAAUNE/D9ZhJ1QunBkpMH9qsi-0lsuj6zk2mvxzwCEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlXf_cm4L-k/Xl_2P9WmTMI/AAAAAAAAUNE/D9ZhJ1QunBkpMH9qsi-0lsuj6zk2mvxzwCEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>4. Begin Making Things From Scratch</b></span><br />Meals, cleaning supplies, soap and skincare, salves and ointments, etc., make what you can from scratch, at least once.&nbsp; You may be very surprised at the cost savings as well as how easy you can fit many of this into your lifestyle.&nbsp; The nice thing is you can start doing this now, while you are at the start of your journey.<br /><br />It may seem overwhelming to try and fit making things from scratch into your life but you can find a way.&nbsp; Don't try converting to all homemade, start with one or two things.&nbsp; Get that under your belt and then add another.&nbsp; Try to think about ways you can prepare things ahead or in steps so it better fits into your schedule.<br /><br />If you like structure, one thing that benefited me was to make an annual plan.&nbsp; For instance, in November I make enough cleaning supplies (<a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2013/04/homemade-cleaners-best-window-cleaner.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">glass</span></b></a>, all-purpose and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2013/09/homemade-living-series-i-love-my.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">laundry detergent</span></b></a>), elderberry syrup, honey cough drops, and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/11/from-herbal-medicine-cabinet-natural.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">vapor rub</span></b></a> to get me through the year.&nbsp; This way we aren't suddenly running out of it when we need it and I'm not trying to fit in making it every few months. <br /><br />March and October were lotion, deodorant, and soap-making months (of course, now we make them all of the time because it's <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">our business</span></b></a>).&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2014/03/all-purpose-herbal-healing-balmsalve.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">All-purpose</span></b></a> and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2016/01/the-benefits-of-charcoal-drawing-salve.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">drawing salve</span></b></a> is made in May, beeswax food storage wraps are made in October (if needed), and facial products are made twice a year in March and September.&nbsp; The first Saturday of the month is when I typically make any products I have planned for that month.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>5. Learn To Live Frugally</b></span><br />Don't wait, <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/theres-no-time-like-today-to-become.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">start today</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Make baby steps or jump head first, whichever is the most effective method for you.&nbsp; Learn to make do with what you have, look for used items as opposed to new, and simply do without.<br /><br />Stop shopping.&nbsp; It should be your absolutely last alternative and well thought out before you make a purchase.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J8HOEcq2q8c/Xl_2QXlj4gI/AAAAAAAAUNM/1fU6C8u06F0RlOUXsQqlED2LKO-FMdENACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J8HOEcq2q8c/Xl_2QXlj4gI/AAAAAAAAUNM/1fU6C8u06F0RlOUXsQqlED2LKO-FMdENACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="501" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J8HOEcq2q8c/Xl_2QXlj4gI/AAAAAAAAUNM/1fU6C8u06F0RlOUXsQqlED2LKO-FMdENACEwYBhgL/s640/simplify-your-life6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>6. Downsize Your Belongings Before Downsizing Your Life</b></span><br />People who live a simple life consciously choose their possessions rather than following the cultural norm of purchasing more stuff to fill up their home and life.&nbsp; This typically results in wanting and needing far fewer things.&nbsp; When you surround yourself with fewer things it's much easier to develop a genuine love and appreciation for those you do keep in your life.<br /><br />If your ultimate goal is to downsize your life, start now with your belongings.&nbsp; Instead of purchasing things to simplify, make sure you truly cherish all of the items you surround yourself with.&nbsp; If not, get rid of things.&nbsp; Buying new organizing systems doesn't help your efforts, it only adds expense to it.&nbsp; I'm not suggesting you get rid of everything tomorrow, instead, <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/02/declutter-your-home-this-weekend-plus.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">begin going through your stuff</span></b></a> and questioning whether or not you "need" it and whether or not you love it.&nbsp; Once you've completed a purge (or two) then reassess the organizing of what remains.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>7. Get Out Of Debt</b></span><br />All debt.&nbsp; College loans, credit cards (no matter how small), car loans or leases, personal loans - all debt.&nbsp; Debt is paying for the past not living in the now or saving for the future.&nbsp; Eventually, getting your mortgage paid off as well will be the last debt to get rid of before you are completely free of the weight of owing others.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/02/how-we-paid-off-our-debt-with-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Being debt free</span></b></a> means you have so many options because you're overhead/minimum earning you need is now minimal.<br /><br />Many people tell themselves they have no choice but to keep working a job they hate.&nbsp; I know, I've been there.&nbsp; They believe they need two full-time workers in the family in order to keep their heads above water.&nbsp; Yup, been there too.&nbsp; There are some circumstances where this is absolutely true.&nbsp; However, in most cases it's not completely accurate.&nbsp; It's all in what is important to you.&nbsp; If you reduce your needs and wants, and therefore your expenses, many times you can then accommodate a lower income.&nbsp; You can then choose to find employment in an area that accommodates personal passion and fulfillment.&nbsp; It may also allow you to be self-employed, or become financially independent and retire early, or even work part-time.&nbsp; The point is, you get to decide.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #666666;">8<span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;">Save Money</span></span></span></b><br /><b></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span style="color: #002000;"></span>Finances are a tough subject.&nbsp; Many people believe this is what will always hold them back from living the life they dream of.&nbsp; And maybe it will, or maybe you can adjust your dream to fit within your budget.&nbsp; That's what we've had to do.&nbsp; Were we completely comfortable, financially, with making the jump to working for ourselves?&nbsp; Absolutely not.&nbsp; But to us the risk was worth the reward.&nbsp; We'd been planning our better life to start in retirement, hoping we'd be ready financially at that point to make the shift.&nbsp; But, after experiencing the sudden loss of a handful of friends and family members who weren't even able to get to retirement years, we realized it was time to begin enjoying our life now.<br /><br />It's tough at times but in the end, the decisions we've made are worth it to us.&nbsp; Would we like to own more property and be more financially stable?&nbsp; Absolutely.&nbsp; But we are so incredibly happy and not having reached all of our goals doesn't stop us from living an altered version of our good life.&nbsp; And we love it.<br /><br />Save money wherever you can, starting today.&nbsp; Pay yourself first and continue reviewing your budget for areas you can make cuts or eliminate some expenses completely.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jv1oHndcmk/Xl_2QGuCA5I/AAAAAAAAUNI/jSrLY79ERHcPODPUycwNeaPfj-xUj8AdACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2jv1oHndcmk/Xl_2QGuCA5I/AAAAAAAAUNI/jSrLY79ERHcPODPUycwNeaPfj-xUj8AdACEwYBhgL/s1600/simplify-your-life5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>9. Learn New Skills</b></span><br />This is something we continue to do.&nbsp; Learning new skills will save you money and empower you to take care of many things yourself.&nbsp; Plus, it's a great challenge and accomplishment!<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>10. Build Your Circle Of Friends</b></span><br />If you currently are not surrounded by friends who have a similar life goal, begin seeking out some who are.&nbsp; These are people you can bounce ideas off of and share fears and wishes with.&nbsp; These people won't think you're crazy or struggle to understand what you desire.&nbsp; Instead, you will find support, compassion and inspiration.&nbsp; I'm not suggesting moving away from friends who don't have similar interests, but rather, adding additional friends to your circle who have similar motivations.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>11. Begin Today</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b></b></span><br /><b></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span style="color: #002000;"></span>Begin working toward your dream life today.&nbsp; Don't waste another hour or even another minute.&nbsp; You are worth it - you deserve to live a life focused on living.<br /><br />Begin living an amended version of that life today.&nbsp; Do what you can where you are - don't wait for things to align perfectly "someday" in order to begin making the changes.&nbsp; That will likely never happen.&nbsp; Begin enjoying your life and living consciously today.&nbsp; Not only will you begin learning to live more simply, you will also see that the lifestyle you desire is possible.<br /><br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-70844282647347316332020-02-27T21:04:00.002-05:002020-02-27T21:04:49.213-05:00Preserving The Harvest - My "To Do" List for 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFbre65JcCE/Xlhs1sgL59I/AAAAAAAAUMg/sJcVnOhTKVgs8_SkGiewmw4YXCe__8RuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFbre65JcCE/Xlhs1sgL59I/AAAAAAAAUMg/sJcVnOhTKVgs8_SkGiewmw4YXCe__8RuQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food7.jpg" /></a></div><br />There is nothing that compares to eating fresh produce picked right from your backyard.&nbsp; I'm always so excited at the anticipation of the year's growing season.&nbsp; What's the next best thing?&nbsp; Eating produce that you've picked and put up for enjoyment later in the year.&nbsp; There's such a satisfaction in grabbing something you've grown and/or preserved from the shelf or freezer and serving it up for a meal.<br /><br />Part of keeping to a <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/02/how-we-paid-off-our-debt-with-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">tight budget</span></b></a> is planning ahead and making the most of the produce we grow.&nbsp; Although I don't currently grow even close to everything we need to sustain us year-round, I am able to provide us quite a bit to eat fresh as well as to put up for eating in winter and spring. <br /><br />I'll be honest, freezing and canning takes planning, time, and energy.&nbsp; Particularly anything with tomatoes.&nbsp; We reserve a full day for those and the kitchen is a disaster at the end of the day.&nbsp; But one day of hard work equals months of enjoyment, so it's well worth it.&nbsp; We eat a ton of veggies so it certainly helps our grocery budget remain in check.<br /><br />What I won't be freezing, drying or canning are greens.&nbsp; I eat a TON of fresh greens every day so I would really prefer to try and grow them year-round.&nbsp; I've had it on my wish list for a while, but I believe this year we will (<b>finally</b>) set up a cold frame so I can try to grow greens throughout the winter.&nbsp; I'm also considering trying to grow microgreens since they are such a nutritional powerhouse.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpsQD9m_eaY/Xlhs0p_N8eI/AAAAAAAAUMQ/U5oYamsPSIkXdHtZtgDKh6iKuyohtiLegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jpsQD9m_eaY/Xlhs0p_N8eI/AAAAAAAAUMQ/U5oYamsPSIkXdHtZtgDKh6iKuyohtiLegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food3.jpg" /></a></div><br />Where do you put all of the frozen food?&nbsp; I get that question a lot.&nbsp; We have 2 stand-alone freezers in addition to the freezer/refrigerator combo in our kitchen.&nbsp; We dedicate one (the larger) freezer to fruits and veggies and the second one is dedicated to buying meat in bulk from local farmers as well as any make-ahead meals or meal components (i.e. chicken stock, pre-made meatballs, pizzas, lasagna, sauces, etc.).<br /><br />Here's what's on my to-do list for preserving this year:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8amWImgbIf4/Xlhs0YDtatI/AAAAAAAAUMI/ROq4TciUs_03OFBS4IwsQsOyhDQoM5tfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8amWImgbIf4/Xlhs0YDtatI/AAAAAAAAUMI/ROq4TciUs_03OFBS4IwsQsOyhDQoM5tfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Canning</b></span><br />(**books/recipes listed at the bottom of the post**)<br /><b>Salsa</b> - I'm continuing my search for a canned salsa recipe that we like.&nbsp; They are usually either too vinegary, too sweet, or too salty.&nbsp; I'll try a couple new recipes this year.<br /><br /><b>Tomatoes</b> - I did not can tomatoes last year and within 2 weeks of tomato season passing I was regretting it.&nbsp; I had oven-roasted quite a few and put them in the freezer for use later.&nbsp; That was helpful for making tomato soup and spaghetti sauce, however, we do use a lot of canned diced and whole tomatoes (recipe at <a href="https://foodinjars.com/recipe/canning-whole-peeled-tomatoes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">food in jars</span></b></a>) throughout the year so I should have canned them. <br /><br /><b>Tomato Jam</b> - <a href="https://foodinjars.com/recipe/tomato-jam/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Marisa's recipe</span></b></a> is SO incredibly delicious.&nbsp; It's the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.<br /><br /><b>Pickled Jalapeno Slices</b> - we use these for so many things so they are a must every year.<br /><br /><b>Spaghetti Sauce</b> - we usually use 2 jars per month in winter and the first part of spring so I try to can enough to cover that.<br /><br /><b>Arrabbiata Sauce</b> - a nice spicy alternative.<br /><br /><b>Pickles</b> - because I have converted to using little to no salt I'm no longer a big fan of pickles but I'll probably put up a couple of jars to have on hand.<br /><br /><b>Sushi Ginger</b> - I don't grow ginger but I want to give this a try.&nbsp; I like to make sushi bowls from time-to-time.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5esrHIQGpkM/Xlhs01EE0NI/AAAAAAAAUMU/W7RPuLLF7QsOXTguhT_jbg32J7ev5dX8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5esrHIQGpkM/Xlhs01EE0NI/AAAAAAAAUMU/W7RPuLLF7QsOXTguhT_jbg32J7ev5dX8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food4.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we love making small batch strawberry-honey jam with frozen strawberries</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Jam</b> - I probably won't can much because I like to make it from frozen fruit in small amounts through the winter so I am able to lower the sugar (we use honey or maple syrup) dramatically.&nbsp; Also, one of our vendor-friends at the farmer's market makes and cans amazing lower sugar jam.&nbsp; I'll probably do a few different jams such as Salted Brown Sugar Peach Jam, Honey Sweetened Peach &amp; Vanilla Jam (recipe at <a href="https://foodinjars.com/recipe/honey-sweetened-peach-vanilla-jam/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">food in jars</span></b></a>), Mulled Cider Jelly (it's like fall in a jar!)because I always end up with leftover cider, and Cantaloupe Jam with Vanilla (we've made this one before and it's sweet but amazing).<br /><br /><b>Enchilada Sauce</b> - we use about a jar per month so I won't need too much.<br /><br /><b>Sweet and Sour Pickled Red Onions</b> - I like to add these to tacos.<br /><br /><b>Spicy Apple Cider and Mustard Glaze</b> - perfect for pork or chicken.<br /><br /><b>Tomatillo Simmer Sauce</b> - I always end up with TONS of tomatillos.&nbsp; We use as many as possible fresh as sauces or salsas.&nbsp; Instead of getting tomatillo-d out this year I'm going to try this plus a tomatillo salsa recipe.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ild8Ke1XLGg/Xlhs0bItrrI/AAAAAAAAUMM/zFpMchnKWe88kVLtwOSZYsFMwOcWsnUtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ild8Ke1XLGg/Xlhs0bItrrI/AAAAAAAAUMM/zFpMchnKWe88kVLtwOSZYsFMwOcWsnUtwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Dehydrating/Drying</b></span><br /><b>Garlic</b> - I don't have a lot planted this year but will increase the yield for next year.&nbsp; What I do have I will dry.&nbsp; We use 2 cloves typically per day so every bit helps.<br /><br /><b>Apple Slices</b> - I love adding these to oatmeal but we also like snacking on them when we are at farmer's markets or craft shows.&nbsp; We don't grow apples and I haven't found an organic local source as of yet so currently these are store bought.<br /><br /><b>Pumpkin Seeds</b> - I've been adding these to my salads daily so I'll bake up the seeds from any pumpkins we eat or bake up for freezing.<br /><br /><b>Herbs</b> - we grow quite a few herbs for cooking and for tea so I'll dehydrate many for use throughout the year.<br /><br /><b>Elderberries</b> - I began dehydrating these last year and it worked perfectly.&nbsp; This way I can make elderberry syrup in small quantities, using honey instead of sugar, to use as needed. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb7B7VBBEmA/Xlhs1U5ymfI/AAAAAAAAUMc/9ZUNvI7BOsQeP8fBrbRRTdsbyoR0mVdewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb7B7VBBEmA/Xlhs1U5ymfI/AAAAAAAAUMc/9ZUNvI7BOsQeP8fBrbRRTdsbyoR0mVdewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food6.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Freezing</b></span><br /><b>Broccoli</b> - I eat broccoli every single day and I grow a lot of it so this is a must.<br /><br /><b>Peppers</b> - <b><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/08/preserving-harvest-freezing-bell.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">bell peppers</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/09/food-preservation-freezing-peppers.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">roasted poblanos, jalapenos</span></a>,</span></b> and stuffed jalapenos (for my husband).&nbsp; We use these every single week.&nbsp; I know that bell peppers lose much of their nutritional value once frozen (or cooked), however they are just so expensive to purchase in the winter.<br /><br /><b>Blueberries</b> - we don't grow enough to freeze but there is a blueberry farm down the road from us and we pick a TON of <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/08/preserving-harvest-freezing-blueberries.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">blueberries every summer for freezing</span></b></a>.&nbsp; We eat blueberries every single morning now so we will be picking and freezing a lot more starting this year.<br /><br /><b>Strawberries</b> - we no longer grow strawberries so I usually get these from a farmer at our farmer's market.&nbsp; We eat these quite a bit throughout the year too so I will be increasing the amount I freeze of these too.<br /><br /><b>Corn</b> - another item we don't grow enough of to freeze so we buy it in bulk from a local farmer and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2013/08/food-preservation-freezing-veggies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">freeze it</span></b></a>.<br /><br /><b>Corn Salsa</b> - corn, chopped roasted poblano's and chopped onion.&nbsp; Then I can add cilantro and lime juice when I go to use it.<br /><br /><b>Zucchini/Summer Squash</b> - I freeze a small amount of shredded squash to add to soups, muffins, or quick breads. <br /><br /><b>Winter Squash &amp; Pumpkin</b> - we do not have a root cellar so we keep them fresh as long as possible and then eventually <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2013/10/making-pumpkin-puree-from.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">bake and freeze</span></b></a>. <br /><br /><b>Winter Squash Soup</b> - spiced and ready to eat!<br /><br /><b>Peas</b> - sugar snaps and regular peas, whatever we have extras of.<br /><br /><b>Carrots</b> - we grow quite a few so I'll put any extras in the freezer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3DgPizFabE/Xlhs1E6A76I/AAAAAAAAUMY/QHNx22n2zCopNKUNoW2bnwZrvmuxFy_5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3DgPizFabE/Xlhs1E6A76I/AAAAAAAAUMY/QHNx22n2zCopNKUNoW2bnwZrvmuxFy_5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Onions</b> - again, only what we have extras of.&nbsp; I'm ok with buying these in the winter and spring since they are relatively inexpensive and store well.&nbsp; I may oven roast them first and freeze them as a starter for French onion soup.<br /><br /><b>Mirepoix</b> - I like freezing chopped carrots, onions and celery together because I use it as the base of so many soups.<br /><br /><b>Green Beans</b> - we eat these just about every day during growing season because we love them fresh. Yes, they are rubbery when frozen, but we still enjoy their flavor so I usually try to <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2012/07/food-preservation-freezing-green-beans.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">freeze some of the massive amounts</span></b></a> that we grow.<br /><br /><b>Oven-Roasted Tomato Slices</b> - we really enjoyed adding some of these to tomato soup, sauces, etc.&nbsp; It just adds a little bit of fresh and roasted tomato flavor.&nbsp; I roasted them without oil (on parchment lined sheets), sprinkled with spices and slivers of garlic, then transferred them to pint canning jars and kept them in the freezer.&nbsp; When I used them I could either add them in the chunks as they were frozen or I could blend them up first.&nbsp; It was perfect, I'll do it the same way again.<br /><br /><b>Ratatouille</b> - I've never put this in the freezer before so this will be a trial.&nbsp; I'd love to hear from you if you've ever given it a try!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2UHTCChvw-A/Xlhs1_9vKWI/AAAAAAAAUMk/niBLUspr_3E123HdwQ1NTfCdPld062_IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/preserving-food8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="501" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2UHTCChvw-A/Xlhs1_9vKWI/AAAAAAAAUMk/niBLUspr_3E123HdwQ1NTfCdPld062_IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/preserving-food8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Canning Books</b></span><br />Here are the sources that I use for recipes. (<i>affiliate links</i>)<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762441437?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Food In Jars</span></b></a> (tomato jam, cantaloupe with vanilla jam, diced and crushed tomatoes, classic dill pickles, and sweet and sour pickled red onions)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762449683?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Preserving By The Pint</span></b></a> (salted brown sugar peach jam, tomatillo simmer sauce, spicy apple cider and mustard glaze, and 2 salsa's we'll be trying)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584798645?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Canning For A New Generation</span></b></a> (pickled jalapenos, sushi ginger, peach &amp; cilantro salsa, and tomatoes)</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1940352517?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">America's Test Kitchen Foolproof Preserving</span></b></a> (mulled cider jelly, arrabbiata sauce, roasted tomato and lime salsa, and enchilada sauce)</li></ul><br />What types of things do you preserve? &nbsp;</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-11866423796811251492020-02-13T19:32:00.001-05:002020-02-13T22:02:55.976-05:00How We Cut Our Grocery Budget In Half (without couponing)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGkSM1pgUE4/XkMTjBfqK1I/AAAAAAAAUL4/SALBuhps82sHGg9GN7oM14Sgdw8yeJq2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGkSM1pgUE4/XkMTjBfqK1I/AAAAAAAAUL4/SALBuhps82sHGg9GN7oM14Sgdw8yeJq2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget5.jpg" /></a></div><br />I shared how we <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/02/how-we-paid-off-our-debt-with-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">paid off our debt with meal planning</span></b></a> last week and now I want to share with you the tips and tricks I used (and mostly still use) to trim our grocery budget to less than half of what it had been. <br /><br />A quick recap.&nbsp; Because we had accumulated a fair amount of debt we were stuck in a cycle of paying the minimum or just above the minimum due.&nbsp; Living on a pretty tight budget, the only place we could find to free up money to start to attack this debt was within our grocery and food budget.&nbsp; I had absolutely no idea how I was going to do this, all I could do was to hope I could figure it out. <br /><br />And figure it out I did.&nbsp; We successfully freed up extra money and paid off all of our debt!&nbsp; (not the mortgage - just over $10,000 consumer debt)&nbsp; Although I cringe to tell you this number, I will share what our previous grocery bill was......&nbsp; We went from spending $140.00 - $200.00 per week down to $60.00 per week (food only, excludes paper products &amp; toiletries).&nbsp; We are no longer in debt (except our mortgage which we are working to pay off early) and our average weekly grocery bills now total $60.00 - $80.00.&nbsp; We cook all 3 meals at home each day, so this amount is for all food, including any eating out.<br /><br />Regardless of whether or not you have debt to pay down, cutting dollars from your grocery budget will allow you extra money to use or save.&nbsp; Although it does take some work initially, it becomes a new normal quite quickly!<br /><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;"><b>15 Techniques For Cutting Your Grocery Budget In Half:</b></span><br />(<i>includes affiliate links</i>)<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Don't Buy Beverages</b></span><br />One of the quickest ways to put a dent in your budget is right here.&nbsp; Drink water.&nbsp; If you are currently drinking bottled water, free up some money so you can invest in a small system (like a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HEYJ08S?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Brita</span></b></a>) to filter your own.&nbsp; This will save you some money very quickly.&nbsp; If you are currently purchasing bottled beverages, think outside the box to figure out a cheaper alternative.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Don't Buy Cold Cereals</b></span><br />And if you do, only purchase them when they hit a rock-bottom price and then stock up.&nbsp; Cereal pricing is quite high so finding an alternative for breakfast will be a big savings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzPwxDlkxdw/XjwzK8u1pMI/AAAAAAAAUJ4/QG3qr1gzot4bxTJgyS-l1-mCmpVA5-LRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hzPwxDlkxdw/XjwzK8u1pMI/AAAAAAAAUJ4/QG3qr1gzot4bxTJgyS-l1-mCmpVA5-LRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Plan Simple Meals With Inexpensive Ingredients</b></span><br />Selecting meals that use a limited number of inexpensive ingredients will help to save money (and time).&nbsp; If you can put a few of these on the menu every week you'll notice a difference in no time. <br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Write A Weekly Meal Plan</b></span><br />I've written about meal planning <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/01/the-ultimate-step-by-step-beginners.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a>, <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/09/the-ultimate-list-of-meal-planning-faqs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a> and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/09/6-reasons-why-you-should-be-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a>, and I can tell you that this is the best way to control your grocery budget and ensure you can get meals on the table every day.&nbsp; It may seem daunting or like something you don't want to fit into your life but I found out the hard way that if you stick to it, it eventually becomes a routine part of your week.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0qx5QDSQbo/XjwzkfCkaaI/AAAAAAAAUKM/DM0F5OcLh-YBW6GDF9ql1yLOaxhLar0YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0qx5QDSQbo/XjwzkfCkaaI/AAAAAAAAUKM/DM0F5OcLh-YBW6GDF9ql1yLOaxhLar0YgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Inventory Your Pantry, Fridge, &amp; Freezer</b></span><br />Before meal planning take an inventory for two reasons: 1. to use up any perishables you have left so they don't go to waste and 2. so you are using items you've stockpiled in your pantry and/or freezer in your meal plan, saving you money.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/08/how-to-build-grocery-stockpile-on-less.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stockpile</span></b></a> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Good Deals</b></span><br />We aren't talking about hoarding here, instead, buying items in a larger quantity than you need when they hit rock-bottom pricing.&nbsp; Items that can be stored in your freezer or pantry for long-term use.&nbsp; Set 5-10 dollars per week aside, if you can, to devote to stockpiling.&nbsp; This becomes a money saver because you will pull from your inventory for meal planning, rather than buying the item, and when you do purchase the item you'll be buying it at a discounted amount.&nbsp; Read more about <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/08/how-to-build-grocery-stockpile-on-less.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">this concept here</span></b></a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Use A Cash Budget For Groceries</b></span><br />Determine what amount you can afford and place that amount in an envelope.&nbsp; Do NOT use your debit card or credit card - the cash you've got is all you can spend.&nbsp; If you have any cash leftover, place that back in the envelope for the next week's budget for additional money available or to allow for stockpiling on good deals (see above).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWlHX6OHOGo/XjwzKwZTvHI/AAAAAAAAUJ8/uz1iZf3p3CoGs-LqT-mBWlBYZ534RDsQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWlHX6OHOGo/XjwzKwZTvHI/AAAAAAAAUJ8/uz1iZf3p3CoGs-LqT-mBWlBYZ534RDsQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Use Meat Sparingly</b></span><br />This takes some time to get used to, but think about it this way.&nbsp; If you serve meat on it's own, you will usually eat a lot more meat than if it were a part of a dish.&nbsp; As an example, if you cut up chicken and thread kabobs with chicken, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and onion and serve this with a small amount of whole grains (rice, quinoa, etc.) you can easily eat a half a chicken breast or less because of all the veggies. <br /><br />If instead you marinate the chicken breast, grill it, and serve the meat with a side of veggies and a side of whole grains, you will likely eat more chicken because seeing it cut up any smaller would make you feel deprived.<br /><br />Incorporating meat chunks into pasta, rice, quinoa or other whole grain dishes will provide you a way to fairly easily use it sparingly. <br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Plan For Leftovers And Use Them</b></span><br />When we first started down the road of frugal eating my husband was completely against leftovers.&nbsp; I mean, wouldn't eat any at all!&nbsp; We discussed it, but I couldn't get him to change his mind.&nbsp; I would eat them for my lunches, so that made my lunch a lot easier to prepare every day.&nbsp; Then one day he suggested he could take some leftover chicken enchiladas to work for lunch.&nbsp; He liked it and the it certainly helped that the other guys were a bit jealous as they smelled it heating up in the microwave.&nbsp; That got the ball rolling and he was then ok eating leftovers for lunch a couple days per week.<br /><br />Particularly if you're making a casserole or something similar, it's so cheap to make a tad bit more to have for 1 or 2 lunches as opposed to what the typical lunch items would cost.&nbsp; And if you've got a spouse who's willing to eat leftovers at dinner, it's not only a cost savings but a huge time savings too!<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Go Out To Eat Once In A While</b></span><br />How in the world is this saving money?? you ask.&nbsp; Well, in order to not feel deprived, planning a night out from time-to-time is a great way to celebrate your frugal budgeting.&nbsp; The meal out should be planned ahead and worked into your weekly budget.&nbsp; The way we do it is we eat from our pantry, fridge and freezer for the most part of the remainder of the week.&nbsp; We also select affordable restaurants and decide ahead of time how much we will spend on dinner (with tip).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiYB-FK8rVQ/Xjw1XwKKkHI/AAAAAAAAUKk/FGOkP4cozOAYnk71_nT58A_5TA5Lv1gmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/meal-planning-faq2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TiYB-FK8rVQ/Xjw1XwKKkHI/AAAAAAAAUKk/FGOkP4cozOAYnk71_nT58A_5TA5Lv1gmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/meal-planning-faq2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Shop Weekly Store Sale Ads</b></span><br />When meal planning, after you look at what you've already got on hand in your pantry, fridge and freezer, the next stop is the weekly store ads.&nbsp; Items that are featured on the front and back are usually at rock-bottom pricing.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Shop At Multiple Stores</b></span><br />Because you are working with multiple store sales ads, you may end up shopping at grocery stores not regularly on your shopping route.&nbsp; For your other items that are not on sale, purchase them at the stores where they are cheapest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GKt-JA4pFA/XkMSFTstiHI/AAAAAAAAULw/KIjTEYzDqSEMF1WzJ9j8torYDY1jTKi8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GKt-JA4pFA/XkMSFTstiHI/AAAAAAAAULw/KIjTEYzDqSEMF1WzJ9j8torYDY1jTKi8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="447" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GKt-JA4pFA/XkMSFTstiHI/AAAAAAAAULw/KIjTEYzDqSEMF1WzJ9j8torYDY1jTKi8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/cut-grocery-budget4.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Eat Meatless A Couple Days A Week</b></span><br />I know, I know.&nbsp; This is probably listed in any and every grocery bill slashing hack you've ever read.&nbsp; But it's there for good reason - it really helps reduce costs while still getting a fully nutritious meal.&nbsp; You don't have to live with meatless meals forever, just until you start to get a good grasp on your finances and until you have a nice stockpile created.<br /><br />My husband is not a fan of meatless meals so I would create meatless versions of what I was cooking for me a couple days a week and serve the meat to him.&nbsp; I didn't mind at all and as long as I didn't have to amend the recipe except for the protein, it wasn't difficult at all!<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>Keep A Few Inexpensive &amp; Quick To Make Back-Up Meals On Hand</b></span><br />It is inevitable that you will forget to defrost something for dinner, forget to prep something that needed to be prepped, have a life event come up which leaves little time for dinner, or simply don't want to eat what's scheduled on the menu.&nbsp; Those are the times when expensive last minute options are usually selected.&nbsp; In order to prevent a budget buster, keeping inexpensive ingredients on hand to prepare a simple dinner that your family will enjoy, will be a huge life saver.&nbsp; Things like jarred spaghetti sauce and a box of pasta, or a frozen pizza, or a bag of frozen veggies and rice. <br /><br />You can also choose to keep a few freezer meals on hand that, if they aren't used in an emergency, get worked into the regular meal plan the following month.&nbsp; Rather than making special meals for freezer meals, simply make 2 of a couple meals each month and eat one and freeze one.&nbsp; Shephard's pie, Enchiladas, Pasta with Sauce and Meatballs, or Meatloaf will all freeze and cook up beautifully.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>If You Have The Space &amp; Desire To Grow Herbs Or Veggies, Grow Either What's Most Expensive Or What You Eat The Most Of</b></span><br />Most people don't have the time, space, or desire to grow all of their vegetables.&nbsp; I get it.&nbsp; If you have some space and some desire, however, you can save yourself some money by growing what's most expensive for you to buy at the store or farmer's market and/or what your family eats the most of. <br /><br />Tomatoes, herbs, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes are what we first started with when we lived in a condo.&nbsp; I planted them in our flower beds, partly because I didn't have space to devote to a garden and partly because of compliance with condo rules.&nbsp; We weren't able to grow all we used but we were definitely able to grow enough to make a difference.&nbsp; Plus, is there anything better than picking your own veggies and herbs from your backyard?&nbsp; A quick note - just make sure your planting area is safe from pets (going to the bathroom and/or eating) and spraying of herbicides/pesticides.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-A5j2kYxiY/Xjw0MgJDJII/AAAAAAAAUKU/32XgqhFPepMZCRj7BqQWMMa2HOG-BD2lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-A5j2kYxiY/Xjw0MgJDJII/AAAAAAAAUKU/32XgqhFPepMZCRj7BqQWMMa2HOG-BD2lgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cut-grocery-budget3.jpg" /></a></div><br />Cutting your grocery budget drastically isn't easy and isn't always enjoyable.&nbsp; It takes some work to come up with creative ways to make things from very little.&nbsp; Honestly, the stockpiling is really the key to keeping it going.&nbsp; It allows you to eat a little better, and allows for some breathing room.<br /><br />I sincerely hope you are able to find some new ideas for getting your own grocery budget under control.&nbsp; Getting a rhythm of how you can save money on groceries will also help if you have weeks where you find it necessary to cut your grocery budget even more for a period of time.&nbsp; I remember feeling a bit helpless and lost when I first started this process and how much of a relief it was once I began to get a good system in place.<br /><br /><br />What tips and tricks have you used to slash your own grocery bill?&nbsp; We would love to hear it!!<br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-51870195142830536462020-02-09T16:10:00.000-05:002020-02-10T08:29:02.440-05:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xs3gLlsVaNg/Xj7PRrpSGdI/AAAAAAAAUKs/ucREU6fmmawHJast4JWnqp_453hpDsEZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-snow-at-cobble-hill-farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xs3gLlsVaNg/Xj7PRrpSGdI/AAAAAAAAUKs/ucREU6fmmawHJast4JWnqp_453hpDsEZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-snow-at-cobble-hill-farm.jpg" /></a></div><br />Happy Sunday friends!&nbsp; So, we are told that spring will arrive early this year - who's with me on the excitement for that???&nbsp; Part of my excitement is the warmer temps but a BIG part of my excitement is getting started building my new gardening area.&nbsp; I've got plans people, and I know it will be a struggle to get my better half to help with some of it but I'm determined to do just that.&nbsp; After my win on the cattle panel trellis last year I'm feeling confident in my persuasion abilities.&nbsp; I'll share more about garden plans in the next month or so.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoYNGh0z1Dg/XkByHRWqy0I/AAAAAAAAULo/wKdxpgwzOFMK2YgkUtLShcEWrPRRkLX9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-snowy-day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoYNGh0z1Dg/XkByHRWqy0I/AAAAAAAAULo/wKdxpgwzOFMK2YgkUtLShcEWrPRRkLX9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-snowy-day.jpg" /></a></div><br />We received a winter storm Thursday and Friday.&nbsp; It started with snow, then switched to sleet and rain, then back to snow.&nbsp; The snowfall at the end, on Friday, was stunning.&nbsp; It was wet and heavy and stuck to the trees so beautifully.&nbsp; The temps quickly dropped below freezing so the trees remained adorned with their white coating.&nbsp; I walked out of the house Saturday morning to let Oliver out and spent a couple of (very cold) minutes just reveling in the beauty of it all. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9s26Zc0ICQ/Xj7Por1Tn1I/AAAAAAAAUK4/Idm2sNQ68kE7QrVxyblfeqMahLVRlptdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-roasted-veg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="527" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C9s26Zc0ICQ/Xj7Por1Tn1I/AAAAAAAAUK4/Idm2sNQ68kE7QrVxyblfeqMahLVRlptdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-roasted-veg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGpc9Ozx56o/Xj7PRpy0nDI/AAAAAAAAUKw/0PL0XOa4KTAXOENx-BVbS3kUVGqu1K-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-beets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZGpc9Ozx56o/Xj7PRpy0nDI/AAAAAAAAUKw/0PL0XOa4KTAXOENx-BVbS3kUVGqu1K-LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-beets.jpg" /></a></div><br />Saturday is food prep day so an hour or so was devoted to that.&nbsp; I try to get my salad ingredients and anything else that makes sense to do, prepped on Saturdays.&nbsp; I also prep all of our Sunday meals since we have the farmer's market that day.&nbsp; I roasted some sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and beets for a delicious addition to this week's salads.&nbsp; As I was prepping the beets my husband walked through and his eyes lit up.&nbsp; He asked what the beets were for and I said for my salad.&nbsp; He looked at me, then the beets, then me and said "well, I like beets".&nbsp; I laughed.&nbsp; I said I would put some aside for him to eat without salad, which made him quite happy.&nbsp; I don't serve beets as much as I should because they are a pain - red getting all over everything.&nbsp; I like to bake them and then slip the skins off and cut them up.&nbsp; It's a bit messy but not too terribly bad.&nbsp; I never was a fan of beets but I've incorporated them into my life because they are so good nutritionally.&nbsp; I still don't love or crave them, but I don't mind them anymore.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfwghElFwaw/Xj8dnIgnGdI/AAAAAAAAULY/D9snuuxO8m8u2QoTxhpy_RTXdGvunzQOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cleaning-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfwghElFwaw/Xj8dnIgnGdI/AAAAAAAAULY/D9snuuxO8m8u2QoTxhpy_RTXdGvunzQOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-cleaning-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br />I also prepped all our products on Saturday, cleaned and packed eggs, did a light cleaning in the house, worked on taxes (yuck!), and listened to the first day of a (free) <a href="https://thetruthaboutweightloss.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">health/weight loss summit</span></b></a> I signed up for.&nbsp; I signed up specifically for 3 speakers which includes one who claims to have a way to break the craving for sugar (seminar is on Wednesday).&nbsp; I've pretty much broken my craving but sugar is a serious pull for me so any additional tips and tricks I learn would be great!&nbsp; (<i>not an affiliate link and a heads up that it is plant-based focused - just sharing if you are interested</i>)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tL19YmX-anA/Xj8dnBISnjI/AAAAAAAAULQ/aT1SKsz0SVMJ_d8r7UdLIm68jVz8MJzyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tL19YmX-anA/Xj8dnBISnjI/AAAAAAAAULQ/aT1SKsz0SVMJ_d8r7UdLIm68jVz8MJzyQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-books.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><b><span style="color: #444444;">Reading</span></b></i> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0842TY3BK?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Breasts: The Owner's Manual</span></b></a>, by Dr. Kristi Funk (<i>affiliate link</i>).&nbsp; So I've had this book for about a year I think.&nbsp; I picked it up at a flea market.&nbsp; I've never read it until this week when I devoured it over the course of 2 days.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because it scared the heck out of me.&nbsp; In a good way.&nbsp; (if there is a good way?)&nbsp; Here's the thing - I knew the risk for breast cancer increases with age and I knew that I have a couple additional factors making my risk a bit higher, but I did not know the specifics, and reading it made it very real.&nbsp; VERY real.&nbsp; For instance, did you know that if you are between the ages of 50 and 59 your chances of breast cancer are 1 in 43??&nbsp; If you're in your sixties, your chances are 1 in 29.&nbsp; And that's just the risk due to age, it's before additional potential risk factors are factored in.&nbsp; Ugh...<br /><br />It was actually the perfect timing for me to read it because I was struggling just a bit with my fairly new <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/11/what-ive-learned-from-whole-foods-plant.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">plant-based lifestyle</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Every once in a while I go through just wanting to be able to eat "normal" - meaning, I'd like to just go out to dinner and not have to worry about whether or not a restaurant is going to have something I can eat.&nbsp; Anywhoo, reading this is keeping me on course with my new "normal" because Dr. Funk gives the following details as part of her book: eating a plant-based whole food diet + regular exercise + maintaining a healthy weight = <b>reduces your risk by 80%</b> (for women 50 and older, which is a group I'm newly part of). <br /><br />Plant-based eating aside, I highly recommend this book for all women of any age to read.&nbsp; It's very well written and full of information on breast health and details her recommendations for lifestyle changes (including info on what to add to your daily diet, plastics, cosmetics, deodorant, radiation, myths, risk factors, stress, etc.), the why's behind it all.&nbsp; She also includes quite a bit of information for anyone diagnosed with breast cancer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNfbhdyi4nQ/Xj7QrRxGJHI/AAAAAAAAULE/vHhw9D25CSMuHSpLEK_Fd6560hNeUQXrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogmay3f-cookie-dough-balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dNfbhdyi4nQ/Xj7QrRxGJHI/AAAAAAAAULE/vHhw9D25CSMuHSpLEK_Fd6560hNeUQXrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/blogmay3f-cookie-dough-balls.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlMFjC2EfJA/Xj7QigbWbWI/AAAAAAAAULA/CKPt350eqkAXWn8eEsGOLEpcxN6aEYz8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/march22-18-mississippi-pot%2Broast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BlMFjC2EfJA/Xj7QigbWbWI/AAAAAAAAULA/CKPt350eqkAXWn8eEsGOLEpcxN6aEYz8wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/march22-18-mississippi-pot%2Broast2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Cooking</span></i></b> - we've been loving taquitos in the air fryer for lunches.&nbsp; For mine, I take some refried beans and chopped canned chilies, roll a bit up in a corn tortilla, and throw them in for 6 minutes.&nbsp; For Jay's I use pre-cooked ground beef, cheese, and canned green chilies.&nbsp; Crispy, chewy, and delicious!&nbsp; I make a guacamole dip and a side salad to go with it.&nbsp; I could honestly eat this everyday but the man says he needs variety so I've been making it only a few days a week.&nbsp; Saturday was one of those days.&nbsp; For dinner on Saturday it was one of Jay's favorites - seared scallops, gnocchi with sage butter, and steamed broccoli,&nbsp; and a big old delicious raw salad with balsamic dressing for me. <br /><br />Sunday's are usually oatmeal for me for breakfast, and an egg sandwich and air fryer hash browns for Jay.&nbsp; For lunch I brought veggies with hummus dip and avocado toast.&nbsp; Jay gets a burger at the farmer's market.&nbsp; I bring fruit and (healthier) <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2017/05/healthier-raw-chocolate-chip-cookie.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">cookie dough balls</span></b></a> for a snack.&nbsp; The cookie dough balls I make up as a large batch and store in the freezer so they are easy to grab and go Sunday mornings.&nbsp; Dinner for Jay tonight is <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/03/delicious-slow-cooker-mississippi-pot.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">slow-cooker Mississippi pot roast</span></b></a> with potatoes and beets, and a big salad with veggies, beans, seeds, &amp; quinoa for me.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4YrqA2LUgk/Xj8dnFdxUNI/AAAAAAAAULU/CbXPOtRJ5lU8zd8PkBlqDRYNbOnuLMx-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z4YrqA2LUgk/Xj8dnFdxUNI/AAAAAAAAULU/CbXPOtRJ5lU8zd8PkBlqDRYNbOnuLMx-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekend1-french-bulldog.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver is sleeping on the couch (and hogging all the blankets) while I write this post</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Planning</span></i></b> - a few outings to local museums or other attractions.&nbsp; We've talked about going and have only been to a handful.&nbsp; We typically only think about visiting local sites in the summer, when we get too busy, so I'm trying to get the husband to go visit a few before winter is over.&nbsp; If I have to, I'll entice him with lunch at <a href="https://www.themercsaratoga.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">his favorite local restaurant</span></b></a> (that also offers vegan options for me - hooray!!)...... A girls gotta have a few tricks in her back pocket, you know?<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Link Love:</span></i></b><br /><a href="https://pjrvs.com/go" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Take Back Your Online Privacy</span></b></a> (prjvs) - an interesting read. Online privacy, or all privacy for that matter, no longer exists it seems.<br /><a href="https://dallas.momcollective.com/most-of-your-stuff-is-worthless-3-things-you-should-be-doing-now-to-reduce-what-you-own/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Most Of Your Stuff Is Worthless: 3 Things You Should Be Doing NOW To Reduce What You Own</span></b></a> (dallas moms collective) - this is so spot on.&nbsp; After going through my MIL's home when she passed it was a relief that my mom had pared her stuff down to what she really loved.<br /><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/12/morning-routines/602788/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The False Promise Of Morning Routines</span></b></a> (atlantic) - I, personally, feel better having a morning routine, but I get that it isn't for everyone.<br /><a href="https://story.californiasunday.com/homeless-families" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">3 Kids. 2 Paychecks. No Home.</span></b></a> (California sunday magazine) - eye opening.<br /><a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/things-unsaid/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Say What You Mean To Say</span></b></a> (modern mrs darcy) - because we don't get do-overs in life, a lesson to learn.&nbsp; p.s. while you're there, if you're a reader, check out some of her book recommendations.<br /><br /><br />How was your weekend?&nbsp; Did you read or do anything interesting?<br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-3085958266147025022020-02-06T15:07:00.001-05:002020-03-29T08:34:08.712-04:00How We Paid Off Our Debt With Meal Planning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDQgWjC5RVc/Xjh74rT6MdI/AAAAAAAAUJk/LqLyLVT2CrYTzE9jA3hXc9pAQprkvkFoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pay-off-debt7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xDQgWjC5RVc/Xjh74rT6MdI/AAAAAAAAUJk/LqLyLVT2CrYTzE9jA3hXc9pAQprkvkFoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pay-off-debt7.jpg" /></a></div><br />Credit cards are something I grew up with.&nbsp; They were a normal part of life.&nbsp; My parents used them for just about everything and I learned to do the same.&nbsp; The problem is that the debt adds up.&nbsp; Quick.&nbsp; And before you know it the amount you owe seems insurmountable to pay off anytime soon.&nbsp; Add to that college loans, vehicle payments, and a mortgage and, well, you are working to pay your monthly payments.<br /><br />Years ago when we found ourselves with a large amount of credit card debt and a little left on an auto loan&nbsp; (combined total was just over $10,000) we were struggling with where to find the money to pay it off.&nbsp; With moderate living expenses, we were just making it week-to-week.&nbsp; My husband temporarily picked up a part-time job in addition to his full-time job (until we realized he made hardly anything once taxes were paid....), and I worked full-time while finishing up my college degree.&nbsp; We had tracked two months of our spending (what a scary and time-consuming exercise but so worthwhile), made the usual cuts, (eating out, coffee/snacks purchased out, limiting activities to free activities, creating a clothing budget, etc.) but it didn't leave us with enough to put extra toward our credit cards to make much of an impact.<br /><br />I stared and stared at our new-to-us budget.&nbsp; One thing that continued to jump out at me was the amount we were spending at the grocery store.&nbsp; But HOW do you cut it?&nbsp; I tried the couponing thing but struggled with both the time to make good use of them and finding coupons for what we were eating.&nbsp; I tried following store sales, but made the crucial mistake of also purchasing all of our additional groceries (which were in no way the lowest prices) at the same store for convenience.&nbsp; I had also tried meal planning and just couldn't stick with it. <br /><br />So I began looking back through my notes, reading the books again that were inspiring me to pay off the debt and I decided that I had to not only give meal planning a try again, but I had to figure out what my stumbling blocks were and fix them.&nbsp; ASAP!&nbsp; I was determined to do this and so I did.<br /><br />And it was difficult.<br /><br />Some days I wanted to throw my hands up in the air and revert back to what I knew best.&nbsp; Spending money without a budget.&nbsp; Some days I wanted to just go buy new clothes and shoes to make myself feel better.&nbsp; But I didn't, and I kept on trying.<br /><br />So, back to meal planning I went and found that I just needed to keep plugging away at it and eventually it would become habit and, therefore, much easier.&nbsp; And it did.<br /><br />Being debt-free allows you options.&nbsp; It also allows you to live in the present.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/theres-no-time-like-today-to-become.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I've previously written about debt holding you in the past</span></b></a> because you are paying for the past, rather than allowing you to live in the now or prepare for the future.&nbsp; Debt forces us to stay in jobs we don't like because of the security of the paycheck, and keeps us from living the life we really want.&nbsp; Although debt is sometimes used to try to live that life we dream about, reality soon sets in when we realize how many years it will take to pay it off and how much our current lifestyle is now impacted because of the spending of the past.<br /><br />Figuring out how to live life without the use of any credit card is, by far, the best decision we've ever made.&nbsp; Regardless of how difficult it's been at times.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBlhmnbn040/Xjh8gH9B3qI/AAAAAAAAUJw/txNOcEI9KAA-pPAurKYO4W78m7qrAx3cwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cobble-hill-farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cBlhmnbn040/Xjh8gH9B3qI/AAAAAAAAUJw/txNOcEI9KAA-pPAurKYO4W78m7qrAx3cwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cobble-hill-farm.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>A Few Things I Learned About Myself (and Meal Planning)</b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>I had to just do it.</b>&nbsp; Regardless of what I came up with for excuses as to why it didn't work or wouldn't work, I just had to do it.</li><li><b>I followed to a tee what I could find for an outline of a meal plan.</b>&nbsp; I could see what may or may not work for us, but I told myself to just do it the way it was written for a few weeks before making adjustments.&nbsp; What I found was that some of what I thought I wanted to change I now had appreciation for and kept it in place.</li><li><b>When we didn't want to eat what was scheduled, or I had accidentally forgotten to purchase an ingredient (or two) for that nights meal, we ate it anyway.&nbsp;</b> No more throwing our hands in the air and defaulting to take-out.&nbsp; Nope, we knew we would live through it and so we ate what was planned.</li><li><b>I fought against having a cash budget for grocery shopping but it wasn't until I finally gave in and converted that I met my budget - every.&nbsp; single.&nbsp; week.</b></li><li><b>It was just the two of us, so I asked my husband every week when meal planning for the following week, for ideas.</b>&nbsp; This way, if he was less than thrilled with a meal choice he knew he had the ability to offer a different suggestion but didn't.&nbsp; It encouraged him to participate.</li><li><b>On that same note, I've always tried to throw in one of his favorite meals and one of my favorite meals each week.</b>&nbsp; Also, if either of us really does not like a particular meal any longer, it either gets adjusted (if that works) or gets dropped from the rotation.</li></ul><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Db4OkcDT71M/Xjh273RwwaI/AAAAAAAAUI8/XXlOiQBeG5kGM-_eZsibiCcRzvEXiRNigCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="750" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Db4OkcDT71M/Xjh273RwwaI/AAAAAAAAUI8/XXlOiQBeG5kGM-_eZsibiCcRzvEXiRNigCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt3.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>How We Freed Up Extra Money From Our Already Tight Budget</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><b></b><span style="color: #666666;"></span><br />I've written complete posts about the process of meal planning which you can find <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/01/the-ultimate-step-by-step-beginners.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a> and <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/09/the-ultimate-list-of-meal-planning-faqs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Rather than rewriting all of that, instead I'll share how some of the specifics of meal planning worked in our financial favor. (<i>more on this in the "<a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/02/how-we-cut-our-grocery-budget-in-half.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half</span></b></a>" post</i>)<br /><br />I'm embarrassed to tell you, but before this process we were (easily) spending $140.00 - $200.00 per week on groceries and take-out.&nbsp; For two people. Initially I aimed to cut our weekly budget to $100.00 per week but quickly found I could shave off more, allowing even more money toward our outstanding credit card debt.&nbsp; I settled on $60.00 per week.&nbsp; (food items only - excludes paper towels or toiletries)<br /><br />Some weeks were easier than others but I'm so happy we were able to do that.&nbsp; I bring back the strict $60.00 per week anytime we are trying to save extra money, in fact I just did it a few years ago.&nbsp; Because we now grow quite a large garden in summer and put up much of the excess for use throughout the year, without trying our new "normal" budget now is between $60.00 and $80.00 per week.<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>I meal planned one week at a time.</b>&nbsp; Some elect to meal plan for a month at a time, but it was too much time for me to work with and felt overwhelming, so I worked on the next week every single week.</li><li><b>Shopping my pantry first was key.</b>&nbsp; Trying to plan meals around what you already have on hand, even if it's just a few items, will definitely save you money.</li><li><b>Shopping store sales was the next big money saver.</b>&nbsp; I rarely used/use coupons.&nbsp; I made time to shop at more than one store and, therefore, take advantage of lower prices.&nbsp; For example, I rarely shop at Price Chopper, one of our larger grocery stores, because their prices on the foods we eat are higher than most other stores.&nbsp; But I added them into our store rotation if they had items on sale that I could incorporate into our meals, or, if they had rock-bottom pricing on items I could <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/08/how-to-build-grocery-stockpile-on-less.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">stockpile</span></b></a>.</li><li><b>Freeing up $5- $10/week for <span style="color: black;">stockpiling</span> was crucial for long-term success.</b>&nbsp; What I found was if I increased my weekly budget for the first month to $70.00/week and used at least <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/08/how-to-build-grocery-stockpile-on-less.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">$10.00/week just for stockpiling</span></b></a>, then I would have some items in our pantry and freezer to use going forward.&nbsp; I was then able to lower my budget on month 2 back to $60.00/week and still dedicate $5-$10.00/week toward stockpiling because I was pulling more food from our now well-stocked pantry and freezer.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7aHcXWnOh-A/Xjh2755_mmI/AAAAAAAAUJE/Tdl0Vmr-hQ0M_SSCJSF4GX98ffdWZA4ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7aHcXWnOh-A/Xjh2755_mmI/AAAAAAAAUJE/Tdl0Vmr-hQ0M_SSCJSF4GX98ffdWZA4ywCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt2.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>In that one month I was able to stock up on some seriously discounted ground beef, chicken quarters, and bought a huge bulk bag of rice as well as a selection of inexpensive frozen vegetables.</b>&nbsp; I was able to use these items for the next couple of months to reduce our weekly expenses as I worked at stocking up on additional items.&nbsp; This became a cycle of stocking up when items were at rock-bottom and shopping not necessarily for the next week's menu, but for stocking up as well.&nbsp; My pantry and freezer became an integral part of our ability to save and eat inexpensively.</li><li><b>We ate out 1-2 times per month so we didn't feel deprived.</b>&nbsp; They were pre-determined times so I was able to plan much of the remainder of the week's meals from our pantry and freezer.</li><li><b>We didn't expect to eat a lot of organic foods or gourmet meals (although if you look for sales and cook with cheaper ingredients we found that we often could get organic).</b>&nbsp; There are some ingredients I just wouldn't buy if I couldn't find the organic version cheap enough (celery, potatoes, strawberries, etc.) or items I wouldn't buy if I couldn't get rock-bottom pricing (cold cereal) and many new recipes I elected not to try because of their list of expensive ingredients.&nbsp; Once I was able to create a nicely stocked pantry I could afford to spend a tad more on produce when needed.</li><li><b>We ate some meatless meals although my husband was/is not a fan.</b>&nbsp; So, I learned to make meat a side and veggies the main part of the meal.&nbsp; Using meat in dishes alongside rice, pasta, or quinoa also helps because you can reduce, significantly, how much meat you use.&nbsp; I did not cook soup (a notoriously cheaper option) for dinners because he just wouldn't eat it.</li><li><b>I learned to use only inexpensive cuts of meats.</b>&nbsp; And I almost always use any bones to make my own broth (use your slow-cooker, it's easy and hands-free).&nbsp; I also used primarily in-season fruit and veggies as well as frozen veggies.&nbsp; Both were usually the cheapest options.</li><li><b>We ate fairly basic meals.</b>&nbsp; The more ingredients in a meal usually, the higher the cost.&nbsp; It would also mean I would have to stock more spices, etc. and I didn't have the budget to do that.&nbsp; Instead, focusing on a few basic spices (basil, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric &amp; ginger are our favorites) to keep stocked in my pantry worked to add flavor to our meals and not kill our budget.</li><li><b>I eventually built a rotation of 30-40 meals that we liked and fit within our budget.</b>&nbsp; I did so by trying one new recipe every couple of weeks.&nbsp; This way we were still trying something new but it wasn't killing our budget.</li><li><b>We used up our leftovers and sometimes cooked to intentionally get leftovers.</b>&nbsp; My husband was previously completely against leftovers but I eventually found he would eat them for lunch, not dinner.&nbsp; So I began planning them in that manner.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5H94BzI8N4/Xjh3jZgd9iI/AAAAAAAAUJY/ydsEvy8-tswzkMKOVYDACtuz6GMj0eJMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5H94BzI8N4/Xjh3jZgd9iI/AAAAAAAAUJY/ydsEvy8-tswzkMKOVYDACtuz6GMj0eJMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="900" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L5H94BzI8N4/Xjh3jZgd9iI/AAAAAAAAUJY/ydsEvy8-tswzkMKOVYDACtuz6GMj0eJMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/frugality4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Our Budget &amp; Debt Payoff Structure</b></span><br />So the first thing we did was to <b>stop using the credit cards.</b><br /><br />The next task, which I really did not want to do (but quickly realized it was essential) was <b>we tracked ALL of our spending for two months.</b>&nbsp; All of it.&nbsp; Every check, every charge (debit), every dollar and every penny spent as cash.&nbsp; All of it.&nbsp; I put everything into categories so we could see what we spend.&nbsp; Although I wasn't really surprised, I was upset, I guess, to see the total dollars we spent in some categories. <br /><br />The next step was to implement a budget.&nbsp; Oh how I hated it.&nbsp; And oh how I, after finally getting used to it, wished I'd always had it. <br /><br /><b>We used a zero-based budget.</b>&nbsp; Basically, it's a budget that takes the total income you make and allocates every single dollar to some bill or category until you're left with a $0.00 at the end.&nbsp; It essentially gives every dollar a name/job.&nbsp; (Dave Ramsey has a <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-make-a-zero-based-budget" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">brief description here</span></b></a>) It looks like this:<br /><br />Total Monthly Income -minus- Expenses (bills, necessities, tax, etc.) = $0.00<br /><br /><b>All of our extra money was thrown at our debt.</b><br /><br />Every.&nbsp; Single.&nbsp; Dollar.<br /><br />It initially felt like this was going to take FOREVER..... but eventually, once we started making some headway, we could see it working.&nbsp; And that made us try even harder and make even more cuts wherever we could.<br /><br /><b>We used a cash budget for categories we were typically overspending in.</b>&nbsp; Groceries, Eating Out, Fun, &amp; Clothing were our basic categories.&nbsp; When you use cash and don't allow yourself to use a debit/credit card as back-up, you are not only more aware of what you're spending your money on but you are now prevented from over-spending.<br /><br /><b>We followed</b> <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University</span></b></a>.&nbsp; The <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps?snid=start.steps" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">baby steps</span></b></a> we used to pay off debt were: save $1,000 for our emergency starter fund and then pay off all debt (except mortgage) using the snowball method.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Ifqs0midw/Xjh275IdDCI/AAAAAAAAUJA/4tUzy5-zoecGCgE0nvMLz1fQ4IEtAt6kgCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Ifqs0midw/Xjh275IdDCI/AAAAAAAAUJA/4tUzy5-zoecGCgE0nvMLz1fQ4IEtAt6kgCEwYBhgL/s1600/pay-off-debt1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Where We Are Today</b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>We no longer use a structured budget.</b>&nbsp; Wait, what???&nbsp; No, we don't spend mindlessly, instead what we've found is that we don't spend much at all so there's no need to budget.&nbsp; As <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/theres-no-time-like-today-to-become.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I've written about previously</span></b></a>, one of the benefits I didn't anticipate from our debt journey was I found this little concept called contentment. &nbsp;</li><li><b>We've reduced our needs and wants.</b>&nbsp; And we've been able to properly identify which is which, unlike earlier in our journey.</li><li><b>We think through all of our purchases, leaning toward frugality and trying to make do with what we have.</b>&nbsp; If we do have a moment of "I would like this" we add it to our online cart and think about it for a day or two, or, if it's at a brick-and-mortar store, think about it for a day or two before taking the plunge.&nbsp; There is much more thought now than there ever was about spending money.&nbsp; We also try to pre-plan our large purchases and save up for them (furniture, new tires for a vehicle, etc.).&nbsp; If absolutely needed, we will use money from our emergency fund to fund an actual emergency (auto repair or appliance replacement).</li><li><b>When we were looking for a home in the country (our current home) to purchase, we only looked at those well below what we were approved for.</b>&nbsp; Well, I take that back.&nbsp; I gave in to my husband's request after looking at a TON of disgusting homes in our self-appointed budget and we looked at one within the amount we were approved for.&nbsp; I felt like I was getting hives just walking around the property.&nbsp; The property was absolutely beautiful complete with a stream and bridge but the home still needed work, even though we would be close to maxing out our mortgage approval.&nbsp; Honestly, all I could think about was the monthly payment.&nbsp; If we hadn't made the choice we ultimately made, we would not have been able to start <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">our business</span></b></a> or work for ourselves until the mortgage was paid off.</li><li><b>We are working feverishly at paying off our mortgage.</b>&nbsp; We've had obstacles like everyone, so just when you feel like you're getting somewhere a bump in the road appears.&nbsp; We've learned that there's always a way around it and that it's always temporary.</li><li><b>We started and grew</b> <a href="http://www.cobblehillfarm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">a business</span></b></a> <b>completely debt-free.</b>&nbsp; It wasn't easy, we were both working full-time while doing it, but it is sooooo worth it.</li><li><b>We live (well) on a lot less than we'd thought would be comfortable for us.</b>&nbsp; This has allowed us to work for ourselves and keep <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>our business</b><span style="color: black;"> small</span></span> as we'd hoped to do.</li><li><b>We grow a lot of our own vegetables.</b>&nbsp; Preserving excess for use throughout the year is a big part of our summer and fall.&nbsp; Additionally, we raise chickens for eggs.&nbsp; Selling the excess pays for the chickens expenses so, ultimately, we consume the eggs for no cost, just our labor only.&nbsp; We try to purchase our remaining produce and meats locally as well.&nbsp; Using meat as a side or not the main ingredient makes it easier to afford to do this.</li><li><b>I meal plan monthly instead of weekly or, as I've written about our recent change,</b> <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/how-to-successfully-ditch-meal-planning.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">don't meal plan at all</span></b></a>.&nbsp; Stockpiling and preserving are such a regular part of our lives now that it's a lot easier to plan ahead regularly.</li><li><b>We still use cash envelopes for 2 categories: food and chickens.</b>&nbsp; The food is mostly because I want to ensure we never go back to mindless spending on this.&nbsp; Most meals are made from scratch at home although we do eat out once every month or two.&nbsp; The chickens envelope is because we sell their eggs and what we make goes to pay for their expenses so I keep it separate.</li><li><b>We don't have credit cards.</b>&nbsp; We did end up opening one a few years after our debt was paid off as a "just in case" card.&nbsp; We had not yet built up a proper emergency fund.&nbsp; Then, when Oliver needed <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2015/08/ivdd-in-dogs-olivers-story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">emergency surgery #2</span></b></a>, we leaned on the card.&nbsp; We didn't rack up too much before we realized we were doing the exact same thing again.&nbsp; We cut it up, paid it off within a few months, and have never taken another again.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfZdXif6zSg/Xjh74mucO0I/AAAAAAAAUJg/T86Io9kI02MMu52B-NIUdDVitTwFpDZxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pay-off-debt6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfZdXif6zSg/Xjh74mucO0I/AAAAAAAAUJg/T86Io9kI02MMu52B-NIUdDVitTwFpDZxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/pay-off-debt6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">We would love to hear your own tips and tricks for paying off your debt and living frugally and debt-free!</span><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></b></span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Additional Resources</b></span><br />Here are a few resources that may be helpful to you if you are on your own debt-paying and/or expense reduction journey.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Books:</span></b><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1595555277?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">The Total Money Makeover</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400206502?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">The Total Money Makeover Workbook</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375752250?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">The Tightwad Gazette</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FODGDOO?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">America's Cheapest Family</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400202833?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143115766?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Your Money Or Your Life</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.livingonadime.com/store/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Dining On A Dime Cookbook</span></b></a><br />(<i>affiliate links</i>)<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">Websites/Blogs (financial/frugality/homemaking):</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Dave Ramsey</b></span></a><br /><a href="https://www.thebudgetmom.com/start-here/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>The Budget Mom</b></span></a><br /><a href="http://www.thriftyfrugalmom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Thrifty Frugal Mom</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.frugalwoods.com/2014/07/16/more-than-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-the-frugalwoods-family/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Frugalwoods</b></span></a><br /><a href="https://www.nogettingoffthistrain.com/start-here/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>No Getting Off This Train</b></span></a><br /><a href="https://www.frugalfarmwife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>Frugal Farm Wife</b></span></a><br /><a href="https://www.thefundamentalhome.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">The Fundamental Home</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://ournextlife.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Our Next Life</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://oursimpleandmeaningfullife.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Our Simple And Meaningful Life</span></b></a><br /><a href="https://www.onefrugalgirl.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">One Frugal Girl</span></b></a><br /><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-11018831594950393272020-01-30T11:41:00.001-05:002020-01-30T11:47:47.081-05:00There's No Time Like Today To Become Frugal & Pay Off Debt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1PyaxBAq9E/XjMCXFrRwVI/AAAAAAAAUII/V-cAjSwjsAkUc36auFtovgNw3jm0Y-TwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1PyaxBAq9E/XjMCXFrRwVI/AAAAAAAAUII/V-cAjSwjsAkUc36auFtovgNw3jm0Y-TwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality1.jpg" /></a></div><br />There's actually no time like today to start whatever you're considering, not just becoming frugal and paying off debt.&nbsp; Starting new things and making changes can be very very hard, but I'm here to tell you my friend, now is the perfect time to do it.&nbsp; Regardless of what craziness surrounds you right now, regardless of what your current financial situation is, and regardless of how many other excuses you could make, when it comes to cleaning up your financial situation and making sure the struggles to keep your head above water come to an end, you need to start today.<br /><br />I understand the struggle - I've told myself many excuses too, and you know what?&nbsp; The only thing I regret is not starting earlier.&nbsp; I regret this about a few life decisions because there is nothing to gain by delaying decisions to change your life.&nbsp; Remember that we can all write a new chapter of our lives at any time.&nbsp; It's definitely not easy.&nbsp; It also may not work out exactly as we'd hope.&nbsp; But one thing is for sure, if you dedicate yourself to making specific changes, you will change your life.<br /><br />Think of debt this way:&nbsp; Debt = paying for the past rather than living in the present or preparing for the future.&nbsp; This is ANY DEBT.&nbsp; Car loans/leasing, credit cards, student loans, owing family members, mortgage, etc. <br /><br />Freeing yourself of debt can allow you endless opportunities including, but not limited to the opportunity to work for yourself, the opportunity to retire, or even the opportunity to work part-time.&nbsp; Heck, you can even stay in the exact same career you are currently in if you desire.&nbsp; The point is, it allows you options.&nbsp; Options to use your money for today and the future in ways that enrich your life and less stress when a financial hardship happens.<br /><br />And the quickest way to get there is one little word: frugality.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGOcadgSH9E/XjMCXLeEnoI/AAAAAAAAUIQ/plL8ocR1aSEKbQYc08kQ1oIEBMbF3DHlQCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGOcadgSH9E/XjMCXLeEnoI/AAAAAAAAUIQ/plL8ocR1aSEKbQYc08kQ1oIEBMbF3DHlQCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>My Journey To Frugality</b></span><br /><a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/11/learning-to-live-frugally-and-simplify.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">I've struggled</span></b></a> with adopting a frugal lifestyle.&nbsp; As I've shared prior, I grew up with an unhealthy relationship with money, learning early on it was normal to spending an enormous amount of money to fill a void and to relieve stress.&nbsp; It took awhile, but eventually I went from hating to deal with finances, seeing money as something that was used both to tear each other apart as well as to buy your way out of a problem, to having a wonderful appreciation and relationship with it.&nbsp; Eventually I also understood about becoming a good steward of what we have.&nbsp; I'm here to tell you, you can do this at any age.&nbsp; It's never ever too late!<br /><br />Saving for later and working within a budget were two things I'd never ever seen in my own family and had no idea how to even begin.&nbsp; I was on the work-to-spend merry-go-round until I discovered the work-to-save version that was oh-so much healthier.&nbsp; And of course more lucrative.&nbsp; While it took years to fully break the cycle, I am grateful I was finally able to do so. Yes, I wish I'd figured it out earlier, and I wish I'd worked harder on it when I first discovered this new way of life.&nbsp; But I didn't and I'm just grateful I made the changes when I did rather than pushing it off even longer.<br /><br />And that's why there's no time like today to start.<br /><br />On my own path, I thought I would adopt frugality just to get debt paid off and then I could return to "normal".&nbsp; I had no idea how much my life would change.&nbsp; What I didn't anticipate happening was that I learned a true appreciation and respect for money - one I'd never knew existed.&nbsp; Mind you, I would have been adamant, prior to this journey, that I had a proper appreciation and respect for it.&nbsp; Only once I was fully committed to the journey did I realize this was incorrect.&nbsp; Not only did I benefit with a newfound appreciation and respect, but I was much more intentional and, over time, I enjoyed that aspect.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41QqwQIOCaw/XjMCXDaMRrI/AAAAAAAAUIM/fTD276_LodEbre_GlWxr3XgjevFa2X3PgCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-41QqwQIOCaw/XjMCXDaMRrI/AAAAAAAAUIM/fTD276_LodEbre_GlWxr3XgjevFa2X3PgCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnRk4V9I-mc/XjMEh2lY1HI/AAAAAAAAUIs/ofN3E-m6N10BDvdenKSHus0pw6xjA_10wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnRk4V9I-mc/XjMEh2lY1HI/AAAAAAAAUIs/ofN3E-m6N10BDvdenKSHus0pw6xjA_10wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/frugality7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="900" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnRk4V9I-mc/XjMEh2lY1HI/AAAAAAAAUIs/ofN3E-m6N10BDvdenKSHus0pw6xjA_10wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/frugality7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Part of what helped accomplish this was paying for cash.&nbsp; I switched us to cash for all except monthly bills so we could really see and control what we were spending.&nbsp; A positive side effect, if you will, was that it made us very intentional and we learned to think through every purchase prior to making it.&nbsp; When you're parting with cash it's a whole different feeling then paying by credit or debit card.<br /><br />I, in no way, am/was perfect. Initially I would do really well for awhile and then I would slip.&nbsp; Instead of quitting I got back on that horse and continued down the frugality path.&nbsp; Incorporating simple living into my life helped pull it all together for me because both frugality and simple living have a strong focus on learning to become content, which was the magical piece of the puzzle I'd been missing.&nbsp; A change happened in my attitude whereas I realized just how much I had and how truly little I needed to live an amazing life.&nbsp; Once I began learning to truly be content with who I was as well as what I had it was the a game changer I needed.&nbsp; I learned the lesson of enoughness.<br /><br />Because frugality runs concurrently with whatever is going on in your own life it's imperative you just start.&nbsp; It is inevitable that life will happen - and expensive life situations will happen.&nbsp; We've had many examples pop up on our journey which meant spending money on gifts, travel, repair, unexpected expenses, etc., but we've kept a (newly adopted) frugal mindset through all of the decision making and I am ecstatic at what we've been able to do.&nbsp; Decisions and creative economical ways of dealing with the unexpected situations that I would have never had considered in the past allowing us to remain strong on our path.<br /><br />Today we are putting all that effort into now paying off our mortgage.&nbsp; We can see the end in sight which is exciting, but it's still a one-day-at-a-time journey.&nbsp; Particularly because we are self-employed and our income fluctuates quite a bit.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YLCgLPzcAo0/XjMFV3CpS2I/AAAAAAAAUI0/8xhTn6u5sZgdin-OTSgCts3TdCVBaJe4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-woodstove-in-workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YLCgLPzcAo0/XjMFV3CpS2I/AAAAAAAAUI0/8xhTn6u5sZgdin-OTSgCts3TdCVBaJe4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-woodstove-in-workshop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 10-year old truck that we purchased with 70% cash and 30% a zero percent 2-year loan (paid in 1 year)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HpaMBuEiE/XjMCYGj3pxI/AAAAAAAAUIo/wl0cATLZcUwEBwmxSWyOP-SVITpdJH3RwCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HpaMBuEiE/XjMCYGj3pxI/AAAAAAAAUIo/wl0cATLZcUwEBwmxSWyOP-SVITpdJH3RwCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>You Only Live Once, So Why Would I Want To Be Frugal?</b></span></div>Ummmm...because you only live once.&nbsp; I hear this a lot as a reason why people don't want to be frugal.&nbsp; Yes, we all only live once.&nbsp; So what do you think your regrets will be at the end?&nbsp; Will they be that you wished you'd had a new car every couple of years?&nbsp; Maybe you will regret not having a larger home?&nbsp; Or maybe you think you'll regret not having enough material things?<br /><br />I highly doubt it.<br /><br />I've had the absolute pleasure of spending time with some amazing people during their final days and not once have any of them regretted material things.&nbsp; For the most part they've regretted not experiencing what they'd always dreamed of (travel, a career they were afraid to go after, etc), and not spending more time with those they love. <br /><br />Remember when we looked at how frugality gives you options?&nbsp; This is where those options are important.&nbsp; When you are out of debt and not spending money willy-nilly on material things, you have options of how to spend both your time and money - you can travel more, spend more time with those you love, make a career change you've always wanted to do but were fearful of because of finances, etc.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Starting Your Own Frugal Journey</b></span><br />One common misconception is that if you're frugal, you can't spend money.&nbsp; Yes, you get to spend money even if you're frugal!&nbsp; If you're frugal you prioritize spending money on what means the most to you.&nbsp; It means being conscious of your long-term aspirations and spending in alignment with that.&nbsp; It means living an intentional life where you figure out what you want to do with your time here on earth and spending your precious time and money striving toward those goals and dreams.<br /><br />You may have absolutely no aspirations to work for yourself running a small business and live on a homestead as we do, but I'm sure you want more out of life than being a mindless consumer, working to pay for material things that don't really enhance your life.&nbsp; So start spending your time and money in alignment with whatever you've identified that you do want.<br /><br />It's not an easy road, initially, and I'm here to assure you that it gets better.&nbsp; Much better.&nbsp; Once you begin putting it all together there's no turning back.&nbsp; Learn to be content with who you are and what you have.&nbsp; Identify what your dreams and goals are for this one life you've got, and start living with those things in mind.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">It all comes down to a simple equation:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;">Spending less money = saving more money = less stress about money &amp; more options = happier life.</span><br /><span style="color: #999999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: #999999;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYbP_vRiSXY/XjMCXjwsuuI/AAAAAAAAUIo/TaQ8gPvmUmAYkOcRMw2FScYKKujLDutDACEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYbP_vRiSXY/XjMCXjwsuuI/AAAAAAAAUIo/TaQ8gPvmUmAYkOcRMw2FScYKKujLDutDACEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="900" height="252" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UYbP_vRiSXY/XjMCXjwsuuI/AAAAAAAAUIo/TaQ8gPvmUmAYkOcRMw2FScYKKujLDutDACEwYBhgL/s400/frugality4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Follow The Experts</b></span><br />We tried a few methods and finally had success with the one created by <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/get-started?snid=start" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Dave Ramsey</span></b></a>. (<i>not an affiliate link - I just really believe in what he does</i>)&nbsp; Here's the thing:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>follow the method exactly</li><li>don't try to throw in your own ideas or go in your own order</li><li>work in tandem with a spouse/partner, or, if you don't have someone you're doing this with, find a friend or family member to support you on your journey (not only for accountability but also for much needed support)</li><li>when Dave says "get rid of your credit cards", get rid of your credit cards.&nbsp; You won't be able to keep them and resist using them.&nbsp; It's like having candy in the house when you're trying to give up sugar.&nbsp; Just get rid of them.</li><li>put your head down and, regardless of how much you owe and how overwhelming it seems, start with baby step 1 today. No excuses.</li></ul><div>Budgets are a pain and change is difficult, but before you know it this new way of life will be exactly that.&nbsp; A new way of life.&nbsp; The struggle will get more and more insignificant and your happiness, sense of peace, and gratitude will continually grow.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HpaMBuEiE/XjMCYGj3pxI/AAAAAAAAUIo/wl0cATLZcUwEBwmxSWyOP-SVITpdJH3RwCEwYBhgL/s1600/frugality5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="501" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3HpaMBuEiE/XjMCYGj3pxI/AAAAAAAAUIo/wl0cATLZcUwEBwmxSWyOP-SVITpdJH3RwCEwYBhgL/s640/frugality5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"></ul><br /></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-51159848629161942672020-01-26T18:57:00.000-05:002020-02-05T07:57:22.806-05:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dO1UAT9KryI/XiygjaufKkI/AAAAAAAAUHc/yDNkPQEz2eQEGM8oBRlelZpN1_56syNDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-farm-fresh-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dO1UAT9KryI/XiygjaufKkI/AAAAAAAAUHc/yDNkPQEz2eQEGM8oBRlelZpN1_56syNDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-farm-fresh-eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vl1evw1xM-Q/XiyixrehqpI/AAAAAAAAUIA/vmiQGe9c8VkmloAjgXoaJK87bCqicRUzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-chickens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vl1evw1xM-Q/XiyixrehqpI/AAAAAAAAUIA/vmiQGe9c8VkmloAjgXoaJK87bCqicRUzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-chickens2.jpg" /></a></div><br />Happy Sunday friend!<br />Rain, rain, go away..... I really do hate to complain about rain since many in the world need it so badly.&nbsp; It's just that winter rain arrives married with cold temps, mostly teetering between freezing and just above, making our homestead a large ice rink.&nbsp; Rain during the other 3 seasons is welcomed with open arms.&nbsp; Rain during the winter is welcomed with warm fires and a pot of soup.&nbsp; It also gives me the perfect opportunity to enjoy a hot cup of tea (my non-coffee coffee as my husband calls it) with a swirl of oat milk while curled up with a book.&nbsp; It hits the spot about right now.&nbsp; I feel like in winter it's easier to live more intentionally and complete activities that make your soul happy.&nbsp; It seems a natural time for reflection, planning, and dreaming.&nbsp; Do you find the same?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WE83vFnJQCI/XiyglFWnAoI/AAAAAAAAUHs/Rhwj5XTHV8s5PpgnWLzGI7AQn6VWyfDyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-woodstove-in-workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WE83vFnJQCI/XiyglFWnAoI/AAAAAAAAUHs/Rhwj5XTHV8s5PpgnWLzGI7AQn6VWyfDyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-woodstove-in-workshop.jpg" /></a></div><br />Speaking of cold, Jay stocked his woodshop full of wood on Saturday.&nbsp; He has a woodstove for heat and was running low.&nbsp; Last year he didn't spend too much time there throughout winter but this year he has a new gig.&nbsp; His hand-turned razors, shave brushes and stands have really taken off and I'm so happy they have.&nbsp; He absolutely loves working with wood and he's really good at it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><i><span style="color: #666666;">Considering</span></i></b> - purchasing a weighted dog blanket for Oliver.&nbsp; Do any of you have any experience with this?&nbsp; I would love to hear your opinion and experience if you do.&nbsp; Ollie has always struggled with anxiety and I thought it might help.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGEiM_tUntE/XiygjV6_6pI/AAAAAAAAUHY/L4JAWmBe_Rkqnc61gGWgGEtmrYfPtqYnACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-entry-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="644" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PGEiM_tUntE/XiygjV6_6pI/AAAAAAAAUHY/L4JAWmBe_Rkqnc61gGWgGEtmrYfPtqYnACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/weekending-entry-room.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uwJgGPW-nY/Xiygj31SnDI/AAAAAAAAUHg/-iQREgVoxy0DhIAOWTrwxP6nqEFjyq8kQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-french-bulldog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="626" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_uwJgGPW-nY/Xiygj31SnDI/AAAAAAAAUHg/-iQREgVoxy0DhIAOWTrwxP6nqEFjyq8kQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/weekending-french-bulldog.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #666666;">Grateful </span></i></b>- for the fact that Oliver is soooo much better.&nbsp; He's even getting back to how he's always been.&nbsp; He has always LOVED the pellet stove and was incredibly uncomfortable laying in front of it these past few weeks.&nbsp; But now, as you can see, he is back to his happy, comfortable self, plopped right in front of it.&nbsp; He's even doing well in the living room (on the couch is his favorite spot) as long as I'm there.&nbsp; That is one thing that I don't think will ever change, he is attached to my side.&nbsp; That's been ever since Emerson passed away a year ago and understandably.&nbsp; Oliver has never been alone, always had a sidekick.&nbsp; So, I am now his sidekick.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXq-MWq0ELU/XiygkETn9oI/AAAAAAAAUHk/JI730o-OrtMRRA0p8F6XdcHm9kT8jIMdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-homemade-salsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXq-MWq0ELU/XiygkETn9oI/AAAAAAAAUHk/JI730o-OrtMRRA0p8F6XdcHm9kT8jIMdACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/weekending-homemade-salsa.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="color: #666666;">Cooking</span></i></b> - Taco's for dinner tonight with homemade salsa (I make this weekly).&nbsp; Although I try not to purchase out-of-season produce, I just can't help myself when it comes to tomatoes for salsa or tomato soup.&nbsp; I made burgers for dinner last night (beef for Jay and lentil for me) with homemade french fries.&nbsp; In the air fryer.&nbsp; So.....here's the thing.&nbsp; I've resisted buying an air fryer for 2 years.&nbsp; I did NOT want another small appliance.&nbsp; Our friends have told us over and over how much they love theirs.&nbsp; The past 3 weeks at the farmer's market some vendor friends were discussing all of the things they make in their air fryers.&nbsp; Ugh….. And everything they told me about, they were able to make without oil.&nbsp; Homemade french fries, potato wedges, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, sweet potato fries, potstickers, homemade egg rolls, chicken breast, chicken wings, pork chops, homemade pizza, reheating pizza, taquitos, blah blah blah....and the list goes on. <br /><br />And so I caved and ordered <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VM1FT8W?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">this one</span></b></a> (<i>affiliate link</i>).&nbsp; I love it.&nbsp; I really do!&nbsp; We have made so many things in it and use it to reheat almost everything.&nbsp; I rarely use our microwave anyway (we usually reheat in the oven) and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VM1FT8W?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">air fryer</span></b></a> has come in really handy.&nbsp; It comes to temp super quick, keeps meat very moist, and adds a crunch without oil.&nbsp; It's incredibly easy to clean and is about as noisy as the microwave.&nbsp; The only things I don't like are how much plastic small appliances are made with these days, and that it doesn't come with much of a cooking guide.&nbsp; I've been replacing plastic items in my kitchen little-by-little but it's nearly impossible to get away from all plastic, isn't it?&nbsp; As far as the guide, the one it comes with covers some basics and I've found most everything else either by winging it or googling it.<br /><br />I have even more plans with this little contraption.&nbsp; I'm trying just about everything in it at least once, just to see if it's even better than the original recipe!<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #666666;">Overwhelmed</span></i></b> - by the thought of attempting to organize our photos.&nbsp; I really need to do this and have put it off for years.&nbsp; Years I tell you!&nbsp; I now also have all of the photos my mom had as well and it's, well, overwhelming.&nbsp; About 18 years ago I scrapbooked for fun and for a living but I'm not interested in having those massive books anymore.&nbsp; I've thought about a simple "regular" photo album, I've thought about <a href="https://beckyhiggins.com/project-life/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Becky Higgins system</b></span></a>, and I've also thought about just turning them all into printed photo books (except the vintage photos), but I continue to procrastinate making the decision.&nbsp; Sigh..... Do you have a way of organizing them that you love?&nbsp; I would be very interested!!<br /><br /><br />Hoping you had a lovely weekend as well!</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-80417753298732271932020-01-23T10:27:00.000-05:002020-04-11T15:07:05.850-04:00The Most DELICIOUS No-Knead Artisan Bread (White, Whole Wheat, or Gluten Free Flour)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkaRy-c10yc/Xii0LEaCf9I/AAAAAAAAUCs/MOLT6mShEPg8vltKnHMRkO52t80aGWobwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WkaRy-c10yc/Xii0LEaCf9I/AAAAAAAAUCs/MOLT6mShEPg8vltKnHMRkO52t80aGWobwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br />Bread, glorious bread!&nbsp; Why is it such a pain to make?&nbsp; Pain no more...… No knead bread is a gamechanger.&nbsp; And no knead bread baked in a dutch oven is the PERFECT combination of crunchy exterior and light, airy and chewy interior.&nbsp; It's soooooo good.<br /><br />This is probably the easiest recipe you'll ever make.&nbsp; There is very little actual hands-on work, no kneading at all (hence the title), no special ingredients, bakes in under an hour, and is super easy to clean up.&nbsp; A win-win-win!<br /><br />Homemade bread is now a cinch to get on the table at dinnertime or to gift to a (very lucky) friend.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoxw0LgwcYs/Xii0LLeKFDI/AAAAAAAAUCw/0D4RCWaDWkgNJBvctDBYt8UVt0Kp5aPMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoxw0LgwcYs/Xii0LLeKFDI/AAAAAAAAUCw/0D4RCWaDWkgNJBvctDBYt8UVt0Kp5aPMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="567" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoxw0LgwcYs/Xii0LLeKFDI/AAAAAAAAUCw/0D4RCWaDWkgNJBvctDBYt8UVt0Kp5aPMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread3.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />We don't eat bread nearly as much we used to, so when we do eat it we want really good, homemade bread.<br /><br />I mix this dough up before I go to bed (it takes about 5 minutes tops to measure and mix) and then bake it the next day.&nbsp; I will forewarn you here that when you mix it up you are going to think something is wrong.&nbsp; It's going to be shaggy and sticky, and look like it needs some help.&nbsp; It doesn't - just let it be.<br /><br />I previously posted a <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2014/02/crock-pot-no-knead-artisan-bread-white.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">similar recipe</span></b></a> that's about double the volume of this recipe and stores in the refrigerator.&nbsp; That recipe offers directions for baking in the oven on a baking stone as well as baking in a slow-cooker.&nbsp; They are both delicious. <br /><br />This current recipe, however, has such an amazing crust that it's now my #1 go-to recipe.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #666666;">**4/11/20 amendment to the original post: we are LOVING using this dough as rolls (dinner, burger, brat, cheesesteak, etc.).&nbsp; It's similar to a ciabatta roll - chewy, airy, and holds up to whatever you put in it.&nbsp; We are also loving it as a pizza crust.&nbsp; I make personal pizza's that are about 8x12, using a quarter of the dough per pizza.&nbsp; Notes at the end of the recipe are added for baking either of these.**</span></b><br /><b></b><span style="color: #666666;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfNqaj_5YX4/Xii0L0jh9TI/AAAAAAAAUC4/F3pPeDvaXCoFh50oErWw0wgMDkqn2MCwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfNqaj_5YX4/Xii0L0jh9TI/AAAAAAAAUC4/F3pPeDvaXCoFh50oErWw0wgMDkqn2MCwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Flour</b></span><br />I've baked this as 4 different versions:<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>White Flour</b> (I used <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8WLHKU?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #444444;">this flour</span></b></a>) - super crispy crust, light and airy interior with perfect air pockets</li><li><b>White Whole Wheat Flour </b>(I used <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HD3T56?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #444444;">this flour</span></b></a>) - super crispy crust, did not get as puffy as the other flours so when I baked it, it was a bit smaller than all the other loaves.&nbsp; It did not have many air pockets resulting in a much denser bread, and was a tad bitter &amp; wheaty as 100% whole wheat typically is.</li><li><b>2 Cups White Whole Wheat Flour + 1 Cup White A/P Flour </b>(I used the 2 flours listed above) - super crispy crust, rose about the same as the white flour loaf.&nbsp; This version had less air pockets than the white flour loaf but more than the 100% whole wheat flour loaf resulting in a fairly dense loaf.&nbsp; It was wheaty but I didn't find it bitter at all, it seemed a bit more rounded of a flavor.</li><li><b>Gluten Free Flour</b> (I used <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096MPAWQ?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #444444;">this flour</span></b></a>) - a nice crispy crust and light and fairly airy interior although did seem a bit gummy.&nbsp; It seemed to rise the same as the white flour loaf and was approximately the same size loaf when baked.&nbsp; The flavor wasn't quite the same as the white flour bread.</li></ul><div><br /></div>Regardless of which you select, it will be easy and delicious.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtntZeajLLs/Xii0LJPmR1I/AAAAAAAAUC0/2ecSUzTZeWEjf5qI3Uvup3i_0S_N1bwzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtntZeajLLs/Xii0LJPmR1I/AAAAAAAAUC0/2ecSUzTZeWEjf5qI3Uvup3i_0S_N1bwzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Water</b></span><br />Often with bread recipes you use a warmer water which encourages a quicker rise.&nbsp; In this case, because you want the dough to rise and develop slowly, allowing for more flavor and air pockets, it calls for room temp water.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Plastic Wrap</b></span><br />You don't have to use plastic wrap to cover the bowl but if you have it, it helps with retaining the warmth in the bowl.&nbsp; This dough won't rise too terribly much so as long as your bowl is slightly oversized there is no worry about the plastic coming in contact with the dough.<br /><br />On to the recipe!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyySCPzxuvw/Xii0L6vqKLI/AAAAAAAAUC8/c0ZzCcoMCM40joX5skTdFnEa4n74FDR-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="451" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyySCPzxuvw/Xii0L6vqKLI/AAAAAAAAUC8/c0ZzCcoMCM40joX5skTdFnEa4n74FDR-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Most DELICIOUS No-Knead Bread&nbsp;</b></span><br />Makes: 1 loaf<br />Mixing time: 5 minutes or less<br />Rising time: 12-18 hours<br /><br />3 cups all-purpose flour (*see above for flour info)<br />1 1/2 teaspoons salt<br />1/2 teaspoon instant yeast<br />1 1/2 cups room temperature water<br /><br /><b>Mix the dough:</b> 12-18 hours before you will be baking the bread, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and yeast until well blended.&nbsp; Stir in the water until blended.&nbsp; Dough will be scraggly.&nbsp; (if you feel more water is needed, add a tablespoon or two more water and blend in).&nbsp; Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature (ideally around 70 degrees) for 12-18 hours, or until surface starts to form small bubbles. (I would let the whole wheat version sit closer to 18 hours if you can)<br /><br /><b>Prep to bake:</b> When you're about ready to bake, place an empty 6 or 8 quart covered dutch oven into the oven.&nbsp; Turn oven on to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and set your timer for 30 minutes.&nbsp; It will take a half hour to completely preheat both the oven and the dutch oven.<br /><br />Pour dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold/shape dough into a ball.&nbsp; (I folded it under itself)&nbsp; Let sit, covered with the plastic wrap, until the oven and dutch oven are ready.&nbsp; Cut off a piece of parchment paper a bit larger than the loaf. <br /><br /><b>Bake:</b>&nbsp; When the oven and dutch oven are ready, remove the plastic wrap from the dough and transfer the dough to the parchment paper.&nbsp; With a sharp knife, cut a couple of slashes into the very top surface of the dough (should not penetrate the dough very deep).&nbsp; With pot holders, remove the dutch oven from the oven VERY CAREFULLY IT IS INCREDIBLY HOT.&nbsp; Remove the lid, and, grabbing a hold of the parchment paper, carefully lower the dough and parchment into the dutch oven, so the parchment is lining the dutch oven.&nbsp; **Be careful not to touch the pan**.&nbsp; Cover with the lid (using your pot holders) and place back in oven.&nbsp; Bake for 30 minutes.&nbsp; Uncover pan and bake another 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.<br /><br />*As difficult as it will be, allow to sit at room temperature to cool at least 45 minutes to an hour.&nbsp; If you slice into it before it cools the interior will be gummy.*<br /><br />Store leftovers (if you have any) at room temperature in a covered container or bag.&nbsp; The crust may lose it's crispiness but it will still taste amazing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">To make rolls:</span></i></b> pour dough onto a floured surface and cut in half.&nbsp; If making hoagie-style rolls, cut each half in half giving you 4 rolls.&nbsp; Roll into an elongated roll (remember they rise as they bake).&nbsp; If making round rolls (dinner rolls, burger buns, etc.), cut each half into 3-4 pieces, depending on how large you would like the rolls to be.&nbsp; Roll in your floured palms to create balls. <br /><br />Allow to sit, covered with plastic wrap or a towel, while you heat the oven and dutch oven as noted in the recipe.&nbsp; You may have to bake these in batches.&nbsp; Follow recipe at the "bake" instructions, including placing the rolls on a piece of parchment, allowing for space to rise during baking.<br /><br />Bake for 15 minutes covered and 7 minutes uncovered.<br /><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">To make pizza:</span></i></b> Follow above instructions through "mix the dough".&nbsp; When you're ready to create the pizzas, preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.&nbsp; Prepare pizza sheets or baking sheets with a piece of parchment paper.&nbsp; Using a well floured counter, pour dough out and cut in half.&nbsp; If you would like larger pizzas, roll out each half to create the size of pizza crust you desire.&nbsp; If you prefer smaller personal pizzas, cut each half in half, giving you 4 pizza crusts.&nbsp; Roll out to desired size.&nbsp; Transfer pizza crust to the prepared pan.&nbsp; Add sauce, cheese, and/or other toppings as desired.&nbsp; Bake 12-18 minutes, or until crust is golden.&nbsp; If you would like, turn on broiler at the end of the baking time to brown and crisp the toppings.&nbsp; Remove from the oven, transfer to a cutting board and slice into pieces.<br /><br /><br />Flours linked to above are affiliate links and are products we use and love.</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-45547224290200660682020-01-19T15:42:00.000-05:002020-01-19T19:12:16.946-05:00Weekending<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1nJPCWtR2eA/XiS4ZOPxywI/AAAAAAAATrM/sbAJr69vHF4ocGnT1oYV9hHf6xf2-buOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/snowy-day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1nJPCWtR2eA/XiS4ZOPxywI/AAAAAAAATrM/sbAJr69vHF4ocGnT1oYV9hHf6xf2-buOgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/snowy-day1.jpg" /></a></div><br />We have snow!&nbsp; Again!&nbsp; It really is beautiful.&nbsp; We had just about lost all of our previous snow because of the higher than normal temps we've experienced melting it, which left us with mud.&nbsp; I much prefer the snow.&nbsp; We woke up Thursday morning to about 3 inches of fresh snow and then we were the recipients of another 5-6 inches on Saturday.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-762ufWzK57w/XiS4ZLmUBTI/AAAAAAAATrI/sKuaxRa5geYTVD7bQz09fx36SLKfsNN9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/salad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-762ufWzK57w/XiS4ZLmUBTI/AAAAAAAATrI/sKuaxRa5geYTVD7bQz09fx36SLKfsNN9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/salad1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my typical salad</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYYzylEI-U8/XiS4Y-nnCPI/AAAAAAAATrE/JefqWSW33FYcnJTbaylZ9alRGCD5oxJVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/salad-prep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYYzylEI-U8/XiS4Y-nnCPI/AAAAAAAATrE/JefqWSW33FYcnJTbaylZ9alRGCD5oxJVQCEwYBhgL/s1600/salad-prep1.jpg" /></a></div><br />I spent a good portion of Saturday doing some meal prep.&nbsp; I usually get a bunch of veggies chopped and/or steamed for my salads throughout the week.&nbsp; I then make up 2 days of full salads and store the rest of the veggies in jars so I can easily make the salads the remainder of the week.&nbsp; **You can possibly see that I add cold water to the chopped celery and grated carrot.&nbsp; This helps keep them crunchy and fresh.&nbsp; **&nbsp; I also always prep what we'll be eating and drinking on Sunday.&nbsp; I make cold brew for Jay plus his coffee syrup (organic sugar and water) as well as prep what we'll have for breakfast, make our lunches, and prep Sunday's dinner.&nbsp; This way, we can easily get ourselves out the door for the farmer's market and then dinner is easy once we're home.&nbsp; Our Sunday market ended up being cancelled due to the snow today so we are well prepped for a day at home!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coBEO1-ihQM/XiS4rFO_P3I/AAAAAAAATrY/RQOtH5nV92welP1XChUkN52O4XlGxyI3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/farm-fresh-eggs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coBEO1-ihQM/XiS4rFO_P3I/AAAAAAAATrY/RQOtH5nV92welP1XChUkN52O4XlGxyI3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/farm-fresh-eggs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="900" height="257" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coBEO1-ihQM/XiS4rFO_P3I/AAAAAAAATrY/RQOtH5nV92welP1XChUkN52O4XlGxyI3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/farm-fresh-eggs2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I usually also clean all of the eggs on Saturday too.&nbsp; Thankfully I hadn't started that task before I was told the market would likely be cancelled.&nbsp; I can find room in the refrigerator for 8-10 dozen eggs for a day, but having them in there all week would have been a real pain.&nbsp; So, we'll have a lot of eggs to clean next Saturday!&nbsp; A quick note, in case you're wondering, once you clean the eggs it removed their natural bloom (protectant) so they must then be refrigerated.&nbsp; They are fine at room temp if that hasn't been removed.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNhtcdY_x4k/XiS5XYGDtbI/AAAAAAAATrg/VUXVukGnnKUMT3pINfLohchGZnp-1xfzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/french-bulldog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNhtcdY_x4k/XiS5XYGDtbI/AAAAAAAATrg/VUXVukGnnKUMT3pINfLohchGZnp-1xfzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/french-bulldog2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oliver sleeping soundly, finally!</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Grateful</i></span></b> - that things are improving with Oliver and&nbsp;<strike>Jerkson</strike> Jackson.&nbsp; As noted in the last <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/weekending.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Weekend post</span></b></a>, Oliver is very upset and I still have no idea what happened to push him over the edge, but I believe Jack must have got into Oliver's bed one night and terrorized him.&nbsp; I'm using (<i>affiliate link</i>) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004IFKSLY?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Bach's Rescue Remedy</span></b></a> on Jack to try and calm him from constantly targeting Oliver.&nbsp; (it's ALL THE TIME..... he is either trying to intimidate him by glaring and getting in his face or he's attacking him) It does help, particularly if I remember to give it to him every 4-5 hours,&nbsp; although it's an uphill battle if I'm being honest.&nbsp; It's just his personality and who he is.&nbsp; He LOVES to pick-pick-pick.&nbsp; Always has.&nbsp; He's hilarious (when he's not picking), handsome, and a really good cat.&nbsp; It would be incredibly helpful if he would settle down a bit. <br /><br />Oliver is temporarily on a bit of prescription medication to help him relax.&nbsp; It got really bad, and the natural alternatives were taking too long to kick in so I reached out to his vet in desperation.&nbsp; He was just such a mess and wasn't sleeping (or letting me sleep) for longer than an hour at a time.&nbsp; He couldn't sit still, constantly jumping/jittery, and was just downright uncomfortable and upset.&nbsp; And when Jack entered the room, oh boy, he would lose it, clinging to my side and crawling up my leg trying to get picked up (not normal for him at all).&nbsp; But when we would take him out of the house he was fine - his normal self.&nbsp; So we knew it had to do with Jack.....&nbsp; He's always been very anxious and high-strung, so unfortunately it's not completely new, just much worse.&nbsp; But, he is now doing well and we have even had 3 nights of 8 hours sleep!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uwzBi0iZlnA/XiS5yORReHI/AAAAAAAATrs/5BznsDWwkB0SmT6OGui0Dl6-Kxsd6F1wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/zero-waste-kitchen-towels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uwzBi0iZlnA/XiS5yORReHI/AAAAAAAATrs/5BznsDWwkB0SmT6OGui0Dl6-Kxsd6F1wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/zero-waste-kitchen-towels.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Loving</i></span></b> - cloth alternatives to paper towels.&nbsp; I have no idea what took me so long to realize that I needed to put a stack of cloth towels in the kitchen.&nbsp; Mind you, we don't use a lot of paper towels, however, they were still an easy go-to because I didn't keep a stack of cloths in the kitchen so it wasn't so convenient.&nbsp; At the end of summer last year I finally stuck a stack in the kitchen and my-oh-my, we use hardly any paper towels at all!&nbsp; One thing I did to stop myself from (out of habit) reaching for paper towels was to put the paper towels in the cupboard or across the kitchen, keeping the cloth towels in my main working area.&nbsp; This way, they were right where I would normally reach to clean up a spill, wash veggies or fruit, etc. Whether you make your own from scraps or buy towels, the key is in making sure you have a small stack so you don't run out before you've done laundry.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iypTvWTaIHw/XiS6BV3ojCI/AAAAAAAATrw/H-KNlCcSQRgoby2_kZNZNdrsqLAAiTzkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iypTvWTaIHw/XiS6BV3ojCI/AAAAAAAATrw/H-KNlCcSQRgoby2_kZNZNdrsqLAAiTzkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/dutch-oven-no-knead-bread.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Cooking</i></span></b> - last night I made 5-Spice Bourbon Chicken for Jay along with rice and cauliflower with cheese sauce. For me it was a grain bowl.&nbsp; Tonight it's Shephard's Pie.&nbsp; The ground beef version for Jay (Cottage Pie, I believe?) and the Vegan (mushroom/corn/carrot/lentil) version for moi.&nbsp; We will have greens &amp; homemade, super easy, no-knead artisan bread on the side (recipe coming this week).&nbsp; Lunches were salad (me), grilled cheese sandwich (Jay) and a side of homemade roasted tomato soup (both).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep36H-74oW8/XiS6PFs6JNI/AAAAAAAATr4/CBEORWnUbaAZ_O2BCB_d3iK5RVYdkHs5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/photo-1476948103998-d32bcfe96e33%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep36H-74oW8/XiS6PFs6JNI/AAAAAAAATr4/CBEORWnUbaAZ_O2BCB_d3iK5RVYdkHs5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/photo-1476948103998-d32bcfe96e33%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1050" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep36H-74oW8/XiS6PFs6JNI/AAAAAAAATr4/CBEORWnUbaAZ_O2BCB_d3iK5RVYdkHs5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/photo-1476948103998-d32bcfe96e33%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Enjoying</i></span></b> - so remember how I shared my favorite teas in a <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/12/weekending.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">previous weekending post</span></b></a>?&nbsp; Well....I've found a NEW ONE!&nbsp; I believe I've also shared that I stopped drinking coffee a few months ago.&nbsp; Once I stopped with coffee I found, when trying to drink it again, that I seem to have some sensitivities to caffeine.&nbsp; So, I've been drinking decaf from time-to-time.&nbsp; But, that has changed now. <br /><br />Celestial Seasonings Tea makes 2 delicious caffeine-free coffee alternatives.&nbsp; I'm linking to them (<i>affiliate</i>) on Amazon so you can see, but purchase them at your grocery store, they are likely much cheaper.&nbsp; At Hannaford I was able to purchase them for $2.79/box (they were around $3.30-3.40/box at Whole Foods and the local health food stores).&nbsp; The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XK5VR91?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Roastaroma is here</span></b></a> (features a light cinnamon/allspice combo)&nbsp; and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001VVCF0?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Almond Sunset is here</span></b></a> (features almond flavoring).&nbsp; Both are a combination of chicory root, carob, and barley.&nbsp; It gives the taste and mouthfeel of coffee and I really am loving them with just a hint of oat milk.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Working On</span></i></b> - being consistent with one new blog post every Thursday.&nbsp; I'll try to also write these "weekending" posts every other Sunday.&nbsp; If I have additional posts or recipes to share, I plan to share those on Tuesdays.&nbsp; As we come up with and incorporate newer, healthier, recipes into our life I'll try to get them up. &nbsp; Quite a few of you have emailed requesting more information on a couple of things:&nbsp; starting our business (a more in-depth look instead of the <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2017/10/my-story-building-natural-soap-skincare.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">overview here</span></b></a>) and an outline of <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2018/09/6-reasons-why-you-should-be-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">how we paid off our debt (all but the mortgage) with meal planning</span></b></a>.&nbsp; I am working on both of these plus an add-on to the debt payoff post - a focus on reducing your grocery bill.&nbsp; I'm thinking about trying to include a month's worth of low cost meal plan ideas/recipes.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #444444;">Reading</span></i></b> - I'm finishing up (<i>affiliate links</i>) <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553067966?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b>The Simple Living Guide</b></span></a> and have <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XLF76YS?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less</span></b></a> next up in que. &nbsp; Have you read either?&nbsp; I would love to hear your thoughts!<br /><br /><br />I'm hoping you've had a lovely weekend as well!</div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8990217242364259191.post-20066861370231164422020-01-16T12:35:00.001-05:002020-02-12T14:44:23.186-05:00How To Successfully Ditch Meal Planning For Good (But Still Save Time & Money)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK6WlfPTzuQ/Xh9ZDb3gWhI/AAAAAAAATqU/gbamzQ--vUs6cuWpqfB3DM_7yXhQ41rBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/summer-produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1080" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vK6WlfPTzuQ/Xh9ZDb3gWhI/AAAAAAAATqU/gbamzQ--vUs6cuWpqfB3DM_7yXhQ41rBACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/summer-produce.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Ditch <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/search/label/Meal%20Planning" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">meal planning</span></b></a>?&nbsp; Have you lost your mind?????&nbsp; These are likely your first thoughts when reading the title.&nbsp; I adore <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/search/label/Meal%20Planning" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">meal planning</span></b></a>.&nbsp; I've even used it to pay off our credit card debt.&nbsp; So why in the world am I suggesting you ditch it?<br /><br />The reality is, meal planning is not for everyone.&nbsp; I've heard from some who have been frustrated in trying to make meal planning work.&nbsp; They either couldn't incorporate it into their week, found it too daunting to figure out how to even start, or did not like it.&nbsp; No one should feel pressured to adopt a typical meal planning structure if it's not comfortable for them.&nbsp; And you certainly shouldn't feel like a failure if you can't make it work.&nbsp; So, today we'll take a look at a way to ditch meal planning but still work within a grocery budget.&nbsp; Sounds like a win-win, right?<br /><br />Why is meal planning such a hot topic?&nbsp; Because cooking at home is a staple for frugal living and having some sort of a plan ensures you are only purchasing what you need which maximizes your grocery budget, saves time, and eliminates food waste.&nbsp; It also answers that often asked question "what's for dinner?" every single night of the week.<br /><br />Before I started a more frugal, simple journey I didn't think about the cost of groceries.&nbsp; That is, until after I'd shopped, when it was too late.&nbsp; And then my thoughts were something like "man, groceries are EXPENSIVE".&nbsp; It never struck me that I could actually start controlling that cost.&nbsp; Oh boy, I was naïve.....&nbsp; Revolutionizing the way we eat took quite a bit of time and effort.&nbsp; And I have to credit meal planning for keeping us on track. <br /><br />But sometimes you don't want so much structure.&nbsp; Instead, being allowed to make decisions the night before so you can cook what you're hungry for.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/05/why-i-wont-be-meal-planning-this-summer.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">So I decided to try something different</span></b></a>.<br /><br /><br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">related posts:</span> <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/08/how-to-build-grocery-stockpile-on-less.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #666666;">How To Build A Grocery Stockpile On Less Than $10.00 Per Week (and why you should)</span></b></a></i> <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/03/8-things-i-wish-i-knew-about-meal.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="color: #666666;">8 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started Meal Planning</span></b></i></a><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/03/what-exactly-is-meal-planning.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #666666;"><i>What Exactly Is Meal Planning?</i></span></b></a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJrK0rXfNkA/Xh9ZPulj7KI/AAAAAAAATqY/w4KE4mF9afsAiASTbshJWl14RCiz1oSwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJrK0rXfNkA/Xh9ZPulj7KI/AAAAAAAATqY/w4KE4mF9afsAiASTbshJWl14RCiz1oSwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="598" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJrK0rXfNkA/Xh9ZPulj7KI/AAAAAAAATqY/w4KE4mF9afsAiASTbshJWl14RCiz1oSwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/kitchen.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Who Is This Right For?</b></span><br />If you typically cook from a decently stocked pantry and/or eat a lot of the same meals on repeat, this will work perfectly for you.&nbsp; If, instead, you like to try a lot of new recipes, or don't have a handful of recipes you cycle through, it could be expensive and frustrating to give this a go. <br /><br />If you happen to struggle with figuring out meal ideas when looking at a refrigerator of food, maybe keep a list of tried and true recipes that you know can be made with what you have on hand.&nbsp; This way, when you're in a hurry and trying to figure out what to cook you've got a list of ideas at your fingertips.<br /><br />I did something similar last summer with vegetables.&nbsp; I began making the same couple recipes for each veggie as it was ready for picking.&nbsp; Then, my husband started&nbsp; saying "why don't we ever have X, or, could you make Y next time?"&nbsp; I had completely forgotten about some of the ways I'd prepared them, so, I decided to make a list of all the ways I've made each veggie, providing me a list I could glance at before making dinner.<br /><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>How I Successfully Ditched Meal Planning</b></span><br />Last summer, when our garden was producing prolifically, <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/05/why-i-wont-be-meal-planning-this-summer.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #990000;">I decided to ditch meal planning</span></b></a>.&nbsp; It was the easiest time for me to give this a go because so much of our food came from our own garden.&nbsp; I learned a lot about how I cook, what we eat, and focused more on shopping to stock my pantry and not to purchase items specifically for that week's meals.&nbsp; I also became more creative in order to use what we had on hand.<br /><br />What I came to realize is that we really do typically use many of the same ingredients throughout the week.&nbsp; This was a great realization because I was able to see that if I opted not to meal plan, and instead shopped to restock my pantry (+ a set number of veggies, fruit, meat &amp; dairy) I could make most of our recipes, or some version of them.&nbsp; The key is not over- or under-buying the perishables each week.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsZiv5o32l8/Xh9ZbegJnjI/AAAAAAAATqg/h71sorCLW-0CCF3Esq7vvz3H3DpSBoE1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/enchiladas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsZiv5o32l8/Xh9ZbegJnjI/AAAAAAAATqg/h71sorCLW-0CCF3Esq7vvz3H3DpSBoE1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/enchiladas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="900" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LsZiv5o32l8/Xh9ZbegJnjI/AAAAAAAATqg/h71sorCLW-0CCF3Esq7vvz3H3DpSBoE1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/enchiladas1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Two Quick Time Saving Tips</b></span><br />One thing that can also make meals easier regardless of your method is to implement a MYO night every week.&nbsp; If you have kids at home and they are old enough, one make-your-own night could be a real lifesaver.&nbsp; You could theme it (MYO Pizza, MYO Grain Bowl, etc.) or just leave it as a MYO and everyone works with the ingredients that are found.&nbsp; This is also the perfect night for miscellaneous leftovers to be eaten up.<br /><br />And a second tactic is to have back-up in the freezer.&nbsp; Whether it's frozen pizza, freezer meals, or something else, this can be a huge help on nights when you forgot to take something out or just can't figure out what to cook.&nbsp; Instead of resorting to expensive take-out, you can have dinner on the table in the same amount of time at a much cheaper cost (and usually healthier too).<br /><br /><i><span style="color: #666666;">related posts:</span>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2020/01/saving-money-on-groceries-what-we-eat.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Saving Money On Groceries + What We Eat</span></b></a></i><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lifeatcobblehillfarm.com/2019/01/the-ultimate-step-by-step-beginners.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #666666;">The Ultimate Step-By-Step Beginner's Guide To Meal Planning</span></i></b></a><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNH4Kc5K7BM/Xh9ZohiEU9I/AAAAAAAATqo/2CBlEjj8KIsLT2dmwtx93TxUYofoCgY9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/french-onion-soup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="900" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gNH4Kc5K7BM/Xh9ZohiEU9I/AAAAAAAATqo/2CBlEjj8KIsLT2dmwtx93TxUYofoCgY9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/french-onion-soup2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Stocking Necessities (a.k.a. a capsule pantry)</b></span><br />We aren't talking about a pantry stocked with 6 months worth of groceries.&nbsp; We also aren't talking about trying to anticipate any one-off ingredient you may need.&nbsp; Instead, this speaks to stocking the main ingredients you use that are shelf stable.&nbsp; Think grains, pasta, canned tomatoes, frozen veggies, spices, etc.<br /><br />For example, I keep the same boxed, bagged, canned, dairy, non-dairy, and frozen ingredients (includes meat) on hand pretty much year-round.&nbsp; What tends to fluctuate (based on season) is our fresh fruit and fresh veggies.&nbsp; So I do 2 things: I keep an ongoing grocery list that I add to when I run out of or am almost out of a regular pantry/fridge/freezer item, and, I add any one-off ingredients if Jay requests or I am hungry for something that calls for a different ingredient.&nbsp; Now, instead of a formal meal plan, I can shop to stock up on necessities and add in a set number of weekly perishables that I work into meals.<br /><br />It allows me to decide that day, or (preferably so I can defrost meat) the night before, what I will be cooking.&nbsp; If you focus on creating meals that consist of a protein, veggies, fruit, grain or starchy veg and a sauce, then you can make any number of meals based on this.&nbsp; Shop according to what is in season and what is on sale.<br /><br />We eat fruit 3 times per day every day, and I eat greens (either cooked or raw) at least twice a day, plus we eat numerous other veggies for lunches and dinners.&nbsp; So I would restock any regular necessities I'm out of plus 3 types of fruit, greens, and a 4-6 veggies, depending on what's in season or on sale. I also have frozen veggies from our summer garden that I rotate through that I factor in.&nbsp; I don't purchase meat weekly, I purchase it monthly and freeze it so that is not on my regular shopping list.&nbsp; Any of our regular favorite meals could be made because our home is stocked. <br /><br />The key with this is to remain flexible if you're missing an ingredient you usually use in a dish.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sU-7uXA2p2g/Xh9ZyvWQr3I/AAAAAAAATqw/EXMrT5ZYl_EhaE4QLONgg070H37MRZajwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ditch-meal-planning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="449" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sU-7uXA2p2g/Xh9ZyvWQr3I/AAAAAAAATqw/EXMrT5ZYl_EhaE4QLONgg070H37MRZajwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ditch-meal-planning.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Cook Once Eat All Week</b></span><br />This is a technique that has really intrigued me but I've found this harder to do.&nbsp; I can see how it would be a timesaver though, so I haven't given up.&nbsp; It does take some pre-planning but you simply have to figure out the base ingredients you'll cook and then you can re-invent using them all week into whatever you're hungry for.&nbsp; It's similar to the method above where you purchase simple ingredients but it takes it a step further to cooking those ingredients so you don't have to cook every night.&nbsp; You can also cook three times and eat all week - cook 3 base meals (+ extras) and use the extras to create leftover meals for the remaining 4 days of the week. <br /><br />The potential downfall is if you are not able to use up everything you made ahead you could end up with waste.&nbsp; I think the key would be to keep an eye on what you've got in the refrigerator and make sure to incorporate it into lunches if it won't be used up with dinners.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20EgDI4NjA4/Xh9Z5dAL-5I/AAAAAAAATq4/GctIU4tprCsf8yI7vPwAoPIC4Z1D9cAxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/no-knead-bread1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20EgDI4NjA4/Xh9Z5dAL-5I/AAAAAAAATq4/GctIU4tprCsf8yI7vPwAoPIC4Z1D9cAxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/no-knead-bread1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="900" height="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-20EgDI4NjA4/Xh9Z5dAL-5I/AAAAAAAATq4/GctIU4tprCsf8yI7vPwAoPIC4Z1D9cAxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/no-knead-bread1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>Life Is Too Short To Stress Out Over Cooking</b></span><br />It took me a while to learn that every meal doesn't need to be a huge production.&nbsp; It also took me a while to learn that we're quite satisfied rotating the same recipes over and over.&nbsp; Almost all of my recipes that I now cook take 40 minutes or less of actual hands-on cooking time.&nbsp; And we love these dishes!&nbsp; When I forget to buy something, defrost something, or run out of time to make an actual meal, well, then we eat something from the freezer, sandwiches and soup, or breakfast for dinner.&nbsp; And so far, we've lived through it just fine.<br /><br /><br /><br />Regardless of how you go about it, the key is to cut grocery shopping down to one day per week (or less) in order to save time and money, reduce or (ideally) completely eliminate kitchen waste, and to create meals at home that are both healthy and budget friendly.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">I would love to hear from you - what is your method for weekly meals?</span></div></div>Staci at Life At Cobble Hill Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12970355437338210130noreply@blogger.com2